
^;2~ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. : 



THE 



REPRESENTATION 



mW lETHERLAID, 



CONCEBinNG ITS 

LOCATION, PRODUCTIVENESS AND POOR 

C OJ^ D I T I N. 

PRESENTED TO THE STATES GENERAL OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS, 
AND PRINTED AT THE HAGUE, IN 

1650, 

IRANSLITED FROM THE DUTCH FOR THE JTEW YORK mSTORICAL SOCIETY, 

WITH NOTES, 

BY 

HENRY C. MURPHY. 



NEW YORK: 
BARTLETT & WELFORD, 

NO. 7 ASTOR HOUSE. 



1849. 

^1 



o 



34541 



N E W Y O R K i 

WILLIAM VAN NORDF. N, PRINTER 
NO. 39 WILLIAM STRKKT. 




^J^ It 



INTRODUCTORY NOTE 



Although the existence of New-Netherland as an American 
dependency of Netherland, had been made known by difTerent 
publications, such as the Hislorischc Verhael of Wassenaer, the 
Nieuwe WereMt of De Lact, the Voijagiens of De Vries, the Welt- 
leschreihunn of the Blaeus, and others of a like character, no dis- 
tinct work on the country was printed until the year 1650. In 
that year appeared at tlie Hague a small quarto tract of forty-nine 
pages with the title of Vertoogh van Nieu Nederlaxd weghens de 
Ghelerentheydt, Vruchtbaerhydt, en Soberen Staet desselfs. 

As this work was the first in point of time to record the early 
annals of New-Netherland and the acts of a dynasty which claimed 
for half a century, sovereignty and exclusive jurisdiction over the 
greater portion of what now constitutes six states of this Confed- 
eracy, so is it also the original printed source from which sub- 
sequent writers have drawn many of their facts in relation to that 
period of the history of those states. Yet strange to say, it would 
seem that of the multitude who have thus written only Van der 
Donck, Acrelius, O'Callaghan and perhaps one or two others ever 
saw the book upon which they thus relied. It may not be a matter 
of surprise that American authors should have been satisfied to take 
at second hand, from a work wi itten in a different language from their 
own, and that language one not much in vogue ; but in trutli there 
is a good excuse for this seeming remissness on the part of both Dutch 
and American writers, in the fact that until recently, the original 
work has not for many years been known to exist to which they could 
refer. Besides the copy from which the following translation has 
been made only one other is to be found in this country, and that is 
in the library of New York Historical Society. Both of these have 



* IJSTRODaCTluN. 

only lately come to light. A manuscript copy taken from the 
original document wliich was presented to the States C4eneral, is 
among the transcripts made by Mr. Brodhead for the State of New 
York, from the Holland archives.* Its rarity in Europe may be 
inferred from the fact that the industrious Ebeling mentions it as 
j)rohahIy a printed document, and Lambrechtsen, the lale Dutch 
historian of New-Netherland, says that notwithstanding repeated 
eflbrts he had been unable to obtain possession of it. No apology 
therefore is deemed necessary for this attempt to give it publicity 
in an English dress. 

The true value of this historical relic consists in its being u con- 
temporaneous relation of events in New Netherland, by eleven per- 
sons who resided there, and who represented the entire population 
of New Amsterdam and the Dutch towns of Long Island, and were 
therefore cognizant of the matters stated in it either of their own 
knowledge or from others who were concerned in them. It was 
written lo be presented to the States General, with a view of obtain- 
ing a redress of certain grievances of which the people complained, 
and is accordingly generiilly known as the Remonstrance of New 
Netherland, and is so referred to by most writers. But in truth it 
is much moie than a remonstrance. In order to give it etfect as a 
petition for j-elief, it was necessary that the value and importance 
of the country should beset forth, and that the rights of the Father- 
land to dominion over it and the encroachments of other powers 
upon it, should be shown. In this wa}^ not only the sense of justice 
and sympathy of the government would be excited, but the pride of 
Netherlanders and a regard for their interest would be aroused. The 
work was therefore so prepared ; and it accordingly may properly 
be divided into three parts, the first giving a description of the 
natives and of the physical features of the country, the second 
being a relation of the events connected witli its settlement by 
Europeans, and the third forming a remonstrance against the policy 
and acts of the West India Company at. home and its governors, or 
Directors General as they were called, in this country. In regard 
to its authenticity it may be observed, that the documents which 
have within the last forty years been made accessible to the public, 
fully corroborate its statements of all those matters which are 
purely historical and not connected with the points of complaint, 

* Secretary of i^tate's Office, Albany. Holland Documents Vol. IV. p. 71. 



INTRODUCTION. t> 

and as to those points the facts for the the most part were not dis- 
puted, and only alleged to be perverted. 

It was probably written by Adrian van der Donck. iHe at least 
composed tl)e original journal from which it was derived, as appears 
in the work itself. That it is not in the form in which it was when 
seized by Stuyvesant is manifest from the rec-ord, which is still 
preserved at Albany, of the proceedings of the Director and Coun- 
cil on that occasion. It was nevertheless the document of the 
Nine Men, a body, selected by the Director and Council from double 
that number of persons, nominated by the people, for the purpose of 
aiding the administration in raising money for public objects 
from the inhabitants, though the purpose was declared in general 
terms to be to confer with it upon the best means of promoting 
the prosperity of the country and of the inhabitants. The restric- 
tions upon trade which it was the policy of the West India Company 
to impose, had injuriously affected the interests of the freemen of 
New Netherland, by retarding population and restraining enter- 
prise ; and the elected Nine Men were not long in directing their 
attention to some mode of relief A deputation to Holland was 
proposed by them and seconded by the Director General ; but 
when they sought to present their grievances in their own way, 
without consulting Stuyvesant, he insisted that the petition should 
be made through him. It was impossible for them to set forth their 
grievances without arraigning the acts of the Director himself, 
however guiltless, regarded as the minister of the Company, he 
might be, and as they were probably instigated by two or three in- 
dividuals, who had private griefs of their own, to speak the more 
harshly of him, they wore not disposed to make the communication 
in the manner he desired. The consequence was a quarrel, as 
detailed in the work, between them and the Director. As their ap- 
pointment was first made in September, 1647, and six of them went 
out of office annually, a new appointment was made before the matter 
was settled ; and probably the reason of eleven signing the doc- 
ument was, that some of the old as well as the new members united 
in the proceeding. The deputation consisting of Van der Donck, 
Jacob van Couwenhoven and Jan Evertsen-bout, three of the Col- 
lege, sailed for Holland in August, 1049, with the Remonstrance ; 
whither Stuyvesant had already despatched his Secretary, Cornells 
van Tienhoven, who in due time presented to the States General, 
an answer to the several specifications of complaint. 



6 



INTRUDUCTION. 



In regard to the strictures contained in the Remonstrance, upon 
the conduct of the Directors General, it must in justice to them be 
remarked, that while they exerted their authority with rigor and not 
in consonance with the more liberal notions of popular right at the 
present day, they appear, from their correspondence, still preserved 
at Albany, witli the West India Company, to have acted for the 
most part under positive orders, and in accordance, when they had 
no directions from the Company, with the spirit of their general 
instructions. The weakness of New Netherland in men, and in 
tliose internal resources which, in the absence of restrictions upon 
individual enterprise and in the existence of a government which 
adbrds security to life and property, naturally grow up, became 
more and more apparent as the encroachments of its neighbors in- 
creased. It was a sense of this weakness that originated the com- 
plaints which, when they came to be made to the government at 
home, had to be formed into specific charges, which necessarily 
placed the Directors in an unenviable light, being apparently the 
immediate autliors of tlie grievances set forth. The real difficulty 
however, and the fault were in the management of the Company, 
which liad taken possession of New Netherland for commercial 
purposes only, and wliich therefore had in view the planting of a 
colony for the Netherland nation merely as an ancillary to their 
profit. This was obvious when the condition of New Netherland 
was compared with that of the neighboring colonies ; but in making 
at this day a comparison of its condition at tiiat time with that of the 
adjoining colonies of the English the distinction, in justit.ie to the 
Dutch of New Netherland, should be ever borne in mind, that 
although both the English and Dutch colonies sprang alike from the 
enterpris3 of incorporated companies of private adventurers, yet the 
object of the English was not a purely commercial speculation as 
was that of the Dutch, and that while the Dutch Company con- 
tinued its control over its colony until its subjugation by the English, 
the Companies of the latter, at a very early period, and many years 
before that event, had been dissolved in pursuance of a wiser 
policy, — looking to the growth and importance of their American 
possessions, — on the part of the British government. 

The proceedings of the deputation on its reaching Flolland may 
be well gathered from the letters of the West India Company to the 
Director. The Company felt that the causes of complaint were at 
their own door and not at that of Stuyvesant, and though they 



INTRODUCTION. 7 

thought that in some cases, exposed by the remonstrants, he had 
exceeded his instructions, they yet stood nobly by him. " The 
Deputies," they write to him on the 16th Feb., 1650, " provided 
with letters of credit and recommendation to the Department of 
Amsterdam, kept them back for nine or ten weeks and presented 
themselves first to the States General, expecting to succeed before 
the Managers would know of it. Failing there, they addressed 
themselves to the States of Guelderland, where they belched out 
their calumnies. They would have caused us a great deal of 
trouble had we not bridled their mouths. The name of New Neth- 
erland was scarcely ever mentioned before, and now it would seem 
as if heaven and earth were interested in it." Again, on the 15th 
of April, they say, " we have before explained at large how the 
Deputies strove by many suspicious means to attain their object 
indirectly, and had succeeded so far in covering their calumnies 
under a thick veil of truth as to impose upon many of the better 
class, so that the matter seemed to assume a perilous aspect both 
for your Honor's reputation and the interests of the West India 
Company, particularly of the chamber of Amsterdam. A great 
flare up was indeed apprehended but it was prevented by the pru- 
dent conduct of the committee of their High Mightinesses, who dis- 
covered a remedy which ought to give contentment to both parties, 
until further provision shall be made. We send you a copy of this 
resolution, from which you may learn what vexations we have suf- 
fered, and how full of danger it is to irritate a furious multitude." 
The resolution of the States General thus sent to Stuyvesant, which 
was merely the projet of reforms recommended by the committee, 
condemned the Indian war brought on by Kieft, and required for 
the future that no similar war should be undertaken without the 
knowledge of the States General ; it provided that the trade in guns 
and ammunition, with the Indians, should be gradually abolished, 
that the fortifications should be kept in repair, that no cattle should 
be exported from New Netherland, that the Council should be re- 
organized and Stuyvesant ordered home to give an account of his 
administration, that a Court of Justice should be erected for the 
province, and a city government established in New Amsterdam, 
and that two ships should be annually employed in transporting per- 
sons immigrating to New Netherland. In order to give effect to 
this resolution the concurrence of a majority of the managei? of all 
the Chambers of the West India Company was necessary. The 



8 



INTROiniCTION. 



Chamber of Amsterdam, to which was entrusted the control of the 
affairs of New Netherland, resisted its adoption, and thus the whole 
subject slept for two years, during which time two of the deputies 
returned home, leaving Van der Donck alone in Holland to press 
upon the States General the complaints already made and others 
arising under new cases of grievance. The Chamber of Amsterdam 
finally, however, conceded a municipal government to NeAV Am- 
sterdam, and also some changes in the duties and in the regulations 
of trade, the establishment of a school and other minor reforms ; 
and thus terminated what threatened to be a serious business for 
their interests in New Netherland. 

Van der Donck remained in Holland until the summer of 1G53 
when he returned to New Netherland. He had employed himself 
in the meantime in writing his descriplion of Neio Netherland, and in 
May of that year secured a copy-right for the work ; though it was 
not then published. He evidently contemplaied an addition to it 
which was never made, embracing a history of the colony ; for on 
his return home the Company wrote to Stuyvesant Uiat he had ap- 
plied for permission to examine the papers in the office of the Sec- 
retary of New Netherland, to complete the history which he had 
undertaken to write ; which application they referred to the Direc- 
tor, advising him to give the permission but so that it should not be 
abused and that " the company's own weapons should not be turn- 
ed against itself, and new troubles raised to its annoyance." Stuy- 
vesant pi'obably did not encourage the application. Tlie work 
appeared in 1655, with the sanction of the Chamber of Amsterdam, 
in a small quarto of 100 pages, with the pictorial view of New Am- 
sterdam which Mr. Moulton has prefixed to the second part of his 
history. A second edition was published in the following year, 
with the map but without the view. Neither of them contains the 
history of New Netherland ; though both refer those who wish to 
be informed in regard to it to the Vertoogh,* of the descriptive por- 

* The chapter of Van der Donck containing this reference is entirely omitted 
in the published translation of General .Tohnson. We therefore translate it here. 

" The Netheklanders the first Possessors of New Netherland. 

" Although the possession and title which the Netherlanders have to New Netli- 
erland is amply treated of, in their length and breadth, in the Eepreaentation of the 
Commonalty, and little more can be said in relation to them unless access be had to 
the Registers of the Honorable West India Company, we will nevertheless touch 
upon them briefly, en passant. When this country was first discovered by the 



INTRODUCTION. 9 

tion of which the work of Van der Donck is in fact merely an 
amplification. 

In 16.51 appeared at Amsterdam a work entitled '' Beschreibimff 
van Virginia, Nieuw Nederland, Nievw Engeland ;" and in 1602 
anotlier witl) the title of " Kort Verhael van Nien Nederlajidl. ;" 
both of which are compilations, from the Vertoogh and other publi- 
cations. The Kort Verhael was published by the Burgomasters 
of Amsterdam, on the occasion of the transfer of the South river 
and its adjacent country to that city, by the West India Company, 
and was intended to invite the attention of emigrants to the new 
acquisition, which is descrii)pd in very flattering terms, at the ex- 
pense of the North river, against which the constant aggressions of 
the English are urged as a strong objection. It was by means of 
these works that the Verlongh became more known. The description 
of New Netherland, printed in the first volume of the new series 
of the Collections of the New York Historical Society, from the Du 
Simitiore MSS. is derived from the Verloogh. 

In regard to the version of the Vertoogh now made, it may be ob- 
served that the aim has been rather at correctness in interpretation 
than elegance in expression, and it has therefore been deemed proper 

Netherlanders, in the year 1G09, and it was told them by the natives that they 
were the first Christian explorers in that region, they took possession of it in the 
name and on behalf of their High Mightinesses, the Lords the States General o 
the United Netherlands, first in the South Bay at Cape Hinloopen, which they so 
called at that time, and which still retains that name, and so all along the coast 
and up the rivers, giving names to the different places, as far as the great North 
River, a great distance up which they sailed, and which some of the English will 
still call Hudson'^ river, but which was then named Mauritius river, after 
Prince Maurice, who at that time was Governor in Netherland ; from thence they 
sailed further along, till they went beyond Cape Cod, of which they also took 
possession, and which they named New Holland ; and our Netherlanders have 
sailed there and traded at the same places thus taken into possession, from time 
to time, since then until the charter was granted to the West Indian Company, 
when they passed under its jurisdiction. And although before, we had there in 
our favor the circumstances efforts, families and cattle, yet since the year 1622 
several forts have been built, farms and plantations taken up, much of the land 
bought of the natives, and other tokens of possession shown, as is to be seen at 
length in the Representation of the Commonalty of New Netherland, to which 
we refer the curious reader. It is therefore unusual, unhandsome and unreas- 
onable for any other nation to assert title or jurisdiction over these places or over 
those situated between such as were first discovered by the Netherlanders." 

2 



10 INTRODUCTION. 

to follow more closely tlian would otherwise have been done, the 
language of the original, and to adopt, in many cases, the forms of 
construction and turns of tliought of the writer, contrary to the 
English idiom. Tiie marginal suuanary in the printed copy is 
confined to that part which treats of the causes of the decline of the 
country ; but in the manuscript transcribed by Mr. Brodhead, and 
followed in this particular in the following translation, it is carried 
throuiihout the whole work. 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND, 



CO.NCER.VING 1X3 



LOCATION, PRODUCTIVENESS, AND POOR CONDITION. 



Among all the people in the world, industrious in t''« ''^'ether- 

('•11 • 1.1 1 landers are 

seeknig out loreign lands, navigable waters and trade, an enteriiris- 
those who bear the name of Netherlanders, will very seeking' out 
easily hold tlunr place with the first, as is sufficiently ["J^'^ g^^„*: 
known to all those who have in any wise saluted the merce. 
threshold of history, and as will also be confirmed by 
the following" relation. The country of Avhich we pro- ertilllid ^was 
pose to speak, was first discovered in the year of our ^'^^^^J, '1^'^,",^^ 
Lord 1G09, by the ship Half-Moon, of which Henry yeariooa. by 
Hudson was master and supercargo — at the expense of ^Hahc-Matn 
the chartered East India Company, though in search of 
a different object.* It was subsequently called New ^^^.^^ Neth- 
Netherland by our people, and very justly, as it was so caiied be- 
first discovered and possessed by Netherlanders, and at [/kc^Ne'ther- 
their cost ; so that even at the present day, those na- ''*"'' '" ""^■ 

f 1 1 11 11 1 "V respects. 

tives ol the country who are so old as to recollect when 
the Dutch ships first came, here, declare that when they when the 
saw them, they did not know what to make of them, '"wTshlp' 
and could not comprehend whether they came down 'hey did not 
from Heaven, or were of the devil. Some among them itwas.-jhey 
when the first one arrived, even imagined it to be a fish, qTinted ""^ 
or some monster of the sea, and accordingly a strange "''hnooth- 

•— ' •/ o cf ("oiuilry or 

report of it spread over the whole land. We have also peopio. 
heard the Indiansf frequently say, that they knew noth- 
ing of any other part of the world, or any other people 
than their own, before the arrival of the Netherlanders. 

* A northwest passage to China, — the attempts to accomplish which have 
caused the discovery and e.xploration, from the first, of North America, more 
than ail other objects combined. 

t Wilden — wild men, was the word generally used by the Dutch and 
Swedes to designate the natives of the coimtry. We adopt the received 
term for convenience. 



'I'lir liii 


Lite 


is Iciiipc 


all'. 


'I'lit- n> 


nu- 


west wii 


ll is 


lllf SI 


Ivii- 


lion of 


tlif 


couiiiry. 





12 REI'RESKNTATION OF NKW NETHEKLAND. 

For these rcusons, therefore, and on account of the sim- 

ihtrJty ol* climate, situation and fertility, this place is 

Tiiciaiiiuck' ri^::htly called New Netherland. It is situated on the 

Neiiierhuui! northerly coast of America, in the latitude of 38, 39, 40, 

41 and 42 degrees, or thereabouts, coast-wise. It is 

Us txteiii. bounded on the northeast by j\ew England, and on the 

southwest by Virginia. The coast rims nearly southwest 

and northeast, and is washetl by the ocean. On tlie 

norlli is the river of Canada, a large river running far 

iin.o the interior. The northwest side is, for the most 

part, still unknown. 

The land is naturally fruitful, and capable of support- 
ing a hirge population, if it were judiciously allotted 
according to location. The air is pleasant, and more 
temperate than in Netherland. The winds are change- 
able, and blow from all points, but generally from the 
southwest and northwest; the former prevailing in sum- 
mer, and the latter in winter, at times very sharply, but 
constitutiiig, nevertheless, the greatest blessing to the 
country as regards the health oi the people, being very 
l)racing and pm-e, and driving off or consuming all 
Tho coast is clamps and superfluous moisture. The coast is generally 
tieriii. The clear aiul sandy, but double and broken into islands. 
.l.'.iii.'k-,""or Eastvvai-d from the North river lies Long Island, a])out 
isiiuuls. '"'° forty miles* in length, forming a fine wide river, whicli 
falls at either end into the ocean, and affording a con- 
venient passage inside for the whole distance, protected 
Tiie Eiist ri- f I'om the dangers of the sea by a great number of good 
^^sii-'e ^"^^^ bays and other places of anchorage, so that vessels can 
thereby in winter readily pass east and west. Towards 
the south approaching the South river,f there are sev- 
eral inlets, but they are muddy and sandy, though by 
proper exertion they could be used. Inside these again 

'I'hf tore- i i '' I ,1 1 1 

lands are thcrc are large streams and valteys, but the waters are 

sh'i'i'tmg. '"' shallow. Along ths seacoast the land is generally sandy 

or gravelly, not very high, but tolerably fertile, and for 

ottiiemoim. the most part covered over with beautiful woods. The 

iliain's 'ami couutry is in many places hilly, with some high moun- 

vaiiies. tains, and very fine flats and mowing lands, together 

with large meadows, salt and fresh, all making very 

fine hay land. It is overgrown with all kinds of trees, 

standing without order, as in other wildernesses, except 

* A Dutch mile is equal to four English miles 
t The river Delaware. 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NKTHERLAND. 13 

that the mowing lands, flats and meadows, have few or 

no trees, though with little pains they might be made 

good wood land. 

The seasons are the same as in Netherland, but the Tiie seasons 

summer is warmer and begins more suddenly. The "'"'"»' "|e 

11 1 r- 1 -11 11 '^^""^ "'* '" 

wmter is cold, and lurther mland, or towards the most Netiieriami. 

northerly part, more so than in Netherland. It is also 
subject to much snow, Mhich remains long on the 
ground, and in the interior, three, four and live months ; 
but near the seacoast it is quickly dissolved by the south- 
erly winds. Thunder, lightning, rain, showers, hail, 
snow, frosts, dew and the like, are the same as in Neth- ^.g^,h'j;"'"' 
erland, except that in the summer sudden gusts of wind 
are somewhat more frequent. 

The land is adapted to the production of all kinds prmiuces^aii 
of winter and summer fruits, and with less trouble and kinds ofiruit 
tilling than in Netherland. It produces difl'erent kinds trouble than 
of wood, large and small, suitable for building houses ("nd.'"^^'*'^' 
and ships, consisting of oaks of various kinds, as post- 
oak, white smooth bark, white rough bark, grey bark, 
black bark, and another kind which they call, from its "*^""" • 
softness, butter oak, the poorest of all, and not very valu- 
able; the others, if cultivated as in Netherland, would 
be equal to any Flemish or Brabant oaks. It also yields 
several species of nut wood, such as oil-nuts, large and 
small ; walnut of different sizes, in great abundance, ^JJ^^ burnt'' 
and good for fuel, for which it is much used, and chesnut, 
the same as in Netherland, growing in the woods with- 
out order. There are three varieties of beech, — water 
beech, common beech, and hedge beech, — also, axe- 
handle w ood. two species of canoe wood, ash, birch, fir, 
fire wood, wild cedar, linden, alder, willow, thorn, elder, 
and many other kinds useful for various purposes, but 
unknown to us by name, and which the carpenters will 
be glad to submit for examination. 

'J he indigenous fruits consist principally of acorns, f,fj,,gf^^,ng 
some of which arc verv sweet ; nuts ot dili'erent kinds, ".it'iraiiy 

h, ,.*,,. , ■, produced in 

esnuts, beechnuts, mulberries, plums, but not many, the country. 

medlars, wild cheri'ies, black currants, gooseberries, ha- 

zle nuts in great quantities, small apples, very large 

strawberries throughout the eountr}^ with many other 

fruits and roots which the Indians use. There is also 

plenty of bill-berri(!S or blue-berries, together with or the vines 

ground-nuts and artichokes, which grow under ground. «/"'. '"f*" 

Almost the whole land is full of vines, as well the wild ^^ ^^°"' 



14 REPRESENTATION «JF Iv EVV NETHERLAND. 

woods as the mowinii- lands and flats ; l:)ut they grow 
])riiicipally near to and upon the banks of the brooks, 
streams and rivers, which are numerous, and run con- 
veniently and pleasantly as ii" they were designed for 
the purpose. The grapes comprise many varieties, 
some white, some blue, some very fleshy, and only fit to 
make raisins of, others, on the contrary, juicy ; some are 
ver}- large and others small. The juice is pleasant, and 
as white in some as French or Rhenish wine, in others 
it is a very deep red, like Tent, and in some ])aler. The 
vines run mucli on the trees, and are shaded by their 
leaves, so that the gra.pes ripen late and are a little 
sour ; but when the people shall have more experience, 
as line wines will undoubtv-^dly be made here as in any 
otlier coinitry. In regard to other fruits, all those which 
grov^^ in iVetherland, also grow very well in New Netli- 
erland, without requiring as much care to be l)esto\ved 
upon them as is necessary there. Garden fruits succeed 
very well, and are dryer, sweeter, and more pleasant 
than in A^etherland ; for proof of which we may in- 
stance particularly muskmelons, citrons or watermelons, 
which in New Netherland grow readily in the open 
fields, if the briars and weeds are kept from them, but 
in Netherland they require the care oi' amateurs, or 
those wlio cultivate them lor proHt in very small gar- 
dens, and then they are neither so periect by lar, nor 
as palatable, as they are in New Netherland. In gen- 
eral all kinds of pumpkins are also much drier, sweeter. 
and more delicious, which is caused by the temperate- 
ness and amenity of the climate. 
oi ii,e i;iMie The taiRc cattle are in size and other respects about 
ilow''* uioy "^^^^ same as in Netherland, l)ut the English cattle and 
ihrive. swine thrive and feed best, a})pearing to be better suited 
to the country than those from Holland. They require, 
too, less trouble, expense, and attention ; for it is not 
necessary in winter to look after such as are not in use, 
or the swine, except that in the time of a deep snow 
they should have some attention. Illilch cows are much 
less trouble than they are in Holland, as most oi' the 
lime, if any care be requisite, it is only for the purpose 
of giving them occasionally <a little hay. 

The wild animals are i)rincipally lions. • but ihey are 
lew ; beai's, of which there are many, elks and deer in 

* Paiiliieis — boiiii'UaifS ciilled Auiciic.ui lioiib. 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 15 

great numbers, some of which are entirely white, and °ni,'|'f,s"„'^',l 
others wholly black. The Indians say that the white "hm ihey 
deer are of very great consequence in the estimation of ""' 
the other deer, and are exceedingly beloved, regarded 
and honored by the others, but that it is otherwise with 
the black deer. There are other large animals in the 
interior, but they are unknown to the Christians. There 
are also wolves, dangerous only to small cattle, beavers, 
otters, weasels, wild cats, foxes, racoons, minks, hares, 
muskrats, about as large as cats, pole-cats and squirrels, 
some of which can fly. There are also ground hogs 
and other small animals, but they are for the most part, 
as we said before, not known to the Christians. 

Of birds this countrj' is by no means without its share. 
There are great numbers of birds of prey, as, eagles, of ofthewrd.. 
two kinds, — the bald-headed, which has the head, tail and 
principal feathers Avhite, and the common kind ; hawks, 
buzzards, sparrow-hawks, crows, chicken-hawks, and 
many others, all capable of being trained and used for 
hunting, though they differ in shape, somewhat, from 
those in Netherland. There is also a bird which has its 
head like a cat, and its body like a large owl, colored 
white.* We know no name for it in Netherland, but 
in France it is called grand due, and is esteemed very 
highly. 

The other birds are turldes, the same as in Netherland, 
but they are wild, and are plentiest and best in winter ; 
several kinds of partridges, some smaller than in Neth- 
erland, others larger, curlews, wood and water snipes, 
pheasants, heath-hens, cranes, herons, bitterns, multi- 
tudes of pigeons resembling coal-pigeons, but a little 
smaller ; quails, merlins, thrushes, shore-runners, but in 
some respects different from those of Netherland. There 
are other small birds, some of which sing, but the names 
of most of them arc unknown to us, and would take 
long to enumerate. Water fowl are found here of dif- _. ., 
ferent kinds, very good to eat ; also swans, similar to ter lowt. 
those in Netherland and full as large : three kinds of 
geese, grey geese, which are the largest and best, red 
geese and white headed geese, ducks of different kinds, 
widgeons, divers, coots, eel-shovellers and several others, 
but not so abundant as the foregoing. 

The river fish are almost the same as in Netherland, 

* Tlip Onr-Owl — huhn rirginianns. 



If) REPRKSEN'I'ATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

Of iim fwh comprisiim" salmon, sl,m'2:eon, twelves, thirteens.* shad 

in Ihr rivers. l , ' '^ i i • i i i i 

cai'j). pereli. pike, trout, roach, tliicknead, suckers, sun- 
iish, eel, niae-eyes or lampreys, both much more abund- 
ant and larger than in Netherland, besides many other 
valuable fish which we are unable to name. 

In the salt water are caught cod-fish, shell-fish, weak- 
InTkimU'or !^sh, herring, mackerel, thorn-backs, fiounders, plaice, 
spi. fish. slieeps-head, black-fish, sea-dogs, panyns and many 
others ; also lobsters, crabs, great cockles, Irom which 
ihe Indians make the white and black Zeewant. oysters 
and muscles in great quantities, with many other kinds 
of shell fish very similar to each other, for which we 
know no names, besides sea and land tortoises. 
Of thR vpii- The venomous animals consist, for the most part, of 
onions tiiho. .,^jf|j^i.g and lizards, though they are quite harmless. 
There are snakes of different kinds, which are not dan- 
gerous and flee before men if they possibly can, else 
they are usually beaten to death. The rattle-snakes, 
however, which have a rattle on the tail, with which they 
rattle very loudly when they are angry or intend to 
sting, and which grows every year a joint larger, are 
very malignant and do not readily retreat belore a man 
or any other creature. Whoever is bitten by them runs 
great danger of his life, unless great care be taken ; but 
fortunately they are not numerous, and there grows 
spontaneously in the country, the true snake root, which 
is very highly esteemed by the Indians as an unfailing 
cure.-j- 
ofrhenipdi- '^''•^ medicinal plants found in New Netherland in a 
ro,:,i punis. ,],^y^ jjy Uttlc scarch, as far as they have come to our 
knowledge, consist principally of Venus' hair, hart's 
tongue, lingwort, polypody, white mullein, priest's shoe, 
garden and sea-beach orach, water germander, tower-mus- 
tard, sweet flag, sassafras, crowfoot, plantain, shepherd's 
purse, mallows, wild marjoram, crania's bill, marsh-mal- 
lows, false eglantine, laurel, violet, blue flag, wild indigo, 
Solomon's seal, dragon's l)lood, comfrey. milfoil, many 
sorts ot i'ern, wild lilies of diflerent kinds, agrimony, wild 

* The Ktriped bttuR ami dniiii-Jixh, svliich were tinuul here .•ifter the shad, 
which in (lie Dutch Iniignatre is iinnied r//"/, (eleventh,) were caUed t.welves 
and thirteens, from that circiiuislance. 

t The xfirpentarin \» t.lie plant here referred to, whicli it is well known is 
not an antidote to the poison of snakes. Lieut. Abert, however, mentions, 
in the Report of his examination of New Mexico, a plant of nle.xipharmieal 
virtues, in nse anionr; t!ie Chayi-nne Indians, supposed lobe a species of co- 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 17 

leek, blessed thistle, snake-root, Spanish fisrs which ^tow 
out of the leaves,* tarrai2:on and nunnerous other plants 
and flowers, but as we are not skilled in those things, we 
cannot say much of them ; yet it is not to be doubted 
that amateurs would be able to find many simples of 
great and differ(;nt virtues, in which we have confidence, 
principally because the Indians cure very dangerous 
and perilous wounds and sores by roots, leaves and 
other trifles. 

It is certain that the Indigo sihestris grows here spon- or the /n<ft- 
taneously without human aid. It coul I be easily culti- *"'*''«»'"* 
vated if there were people who would undertake it ; at 
least, the other species would grow very well and yield 
a good profit. We have seen proof of this in the colony 
of Renselaerswyck, though it was all sown too late and 
upon a barren rock where there was little earth. It 
came up very well, but in consequence of the drought 
turned very yellow and withered, and was neglec- 
ted ; nevertheless it was evident, that if it were well 
covered, it would succeed. Madder plants also would 
undoubtedly grow well both in fields and gardens, and 
better than in Zealand. 

There may be discovered casually or by little search, of ">e min- 
ditferent minerals, upon some of which experiments have ^'^'" 
been made according to our limited means, and which 
are found good. We have attempted several times to 
send specimens of them to Netherland. once with Arent proofs of mi 
van Corenbenf by way of New Haven and England, °«''"*8'^-«°- 
but the ship was wrecked and no tidings of it have ever 
been received. Director William Kielt also had many 
different specimens with him in the ship, the Princess, 
but they were lost in her with him. The mountains 
and mines nevertheless remain, and are easily to be found 
again whenever it may be thought proper to go to the 
labor and expense. In New England they have already The English 
progressed so far as to make castings of iron pots, tank- ^f^nietaC"'* 
ards, balls and the like out of their minerals, and we 
firmly believe all that is wanting here is to have a be- 
ginning made ; for there are in New Netherland two 
kinds of marcasite, and mines of white and yellow- 
quicksilver, of gold, silver, copper, iron, black lead and 

• Probably the prickly pear is meant. 

t Arent Corsen. He embarked in Mr. Lamberson's ghip, the fate of 
which was ma vellously connected with a mirage by the early New Eng- 
and writers. See Winihrop's Journal, ii. 254, and Mather's ^^agnalia. 06 



Of the stone. 



13 REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

hard coal. It is supposed that tin and lead will also be 
found ; hnt who will seek alter them or Avho will work 
them as long as there are not more people ? 
The differ Fullcr's earth is found in abundance, and Armenian 
ent kiiuisof bQJp . j^igo ^vhite, red, yellow, blue and black clay very 
earth. soHd and greasy, and suitable lor many purposes : earth 

for stone ware, mountain-chrystal, glass like that of 
Muscovy, green serpentine stone in great abundance, 
grey hearth stone, slate, red grind-stone, flint, paving 
stone, large quantities of all varieties of quarry stone 
suitable for building and all kinds of walls, asbestos and 
very many other kinds applicable to the use of man. 
ofihe paints There are difierent paints, but the Christians are not 
.skilled in them. They are seen daily on the Indians, who 
understand their nature and use them to paint them- 
selves in different colors. If it were not that explorers 
are wanting, our people woidd be able to find them and 
provide themselves with them. 



OF THE AMERICANS OR NATIVES, THEIR APPEARANCE, 
OCCUPATIONS, AND MANNER OF LIVING. 

The natives are generally well set in their limbs, 
slender round the waist, broad across the shoulders, and 
have black hair and dark eyes. They are very nimble 
and active, well adapted to travel on foot and to drag 
heavy burdens. They are foul and slovenly in their ac- 
tions, and make little of all kinds of hardships ; to which 
indeed they are from youth accustomed. I'hey are like 
the Brazilians, in cofor, or as yellow as the people who 
sometimes come to Netherland and are called Heathens. 
The men generally have no beard, or very little, which 

„., they pull out. They use very few words, which they 

!=poMi<simviy fii-st vv-ell cousidcr. Naturally they are very modest, 
wi.'rd"''' "" simple and inexperienced ; though in their actions high 
minded enough, vigorous and quick to comprehend or 
learn, be it right or wrong, whenever they are so in- 
clined. They are not honorable as soldiers but perfid- 
ious, accomplishing all their enterprises by treachery, 
using many stratagems to deceive their enemies, and 
ordering all their plans, involving any danger, by night. 
The desire oi' revenge appears to be born in them. 



The Ind'mns 



REPRESENTATION OP NEW NETHERLAND. 19 

They arc very obstinate in deiending: themselves when 
they cannot run, which however they do when they 
can ; and they make little of death when it is inevitable, ^^^^ ^.^^ 
and despise all tortures which can be inflicted upon while (lyin^- 
them while dying, manifesting^ no sorrow, but usually '^ ''^^ *"''"'■ 
singing on the occasion. They understand how to cure ^,^ ^^^^ 
wounds and hurts, or inveterate sores and injuries, by how to euro 
means of herbs and roots, which grow in the country, and and hum". "* 
which are known to them. Their clothing, both for men 
and women, is a piece of duffels or leather, in front, with a of ^^^u 
deer skin or elk's hide over the body. Some have bears' 
hides of which they make doublets ; others have coats 
made of the skins of racoons, wild-cats, wolves, dogs, 
weasels, squirrels, beavers and the like, and also of tur- 
key's feathers. At present they use for the most part 
duffels cloth, which they obtain in barter from the Chris- 
tians. They make their stockings and shoes of deer 
skins or elk's hide, and some have shoes made of corn- 
husks ; of which they also make sacks. Their money Their mn- 
consists of white and black Zeewant, which they them- "J^^j '* ^j^'j^'J^ 
selves make. Their measure of value is by the hand zeeaant. 
or by the fathom ; but their corn is measured by denotas, 
which are bags they make themselves. Their ornaments They paint 
consist in cutting their bodies, or painting them with j^omes" '"^for 
various colors, sometimes very black, if they are in "le |">''P"^'« 
mourning, and generally in the face. They suspend 
Zeewant, both white and black, from their heads, which 
they otherwise are not wont to cover, but on whieh they 
are now beginning to wear hats and caps bought of the 
Christians, and from their ears. They also put it round 
their necks and bodies, wherewith after their manner 
they appear very fine. They have long deer's hair 
which is dyed red, and of which they make rings for the 
head, and other hair of the same color, to hang from the 
neck like tresses, of which they are very proud. They 
frequently smear their skin and hair with difTerent 
kinds of grease. They can most all swim. They them- They make 
selves make the boats they use, whicli are of two kinds, |hemsci"es" 
some of entire trees, which they hollow out with lire, °',;y'bar|."'^/f 
hatchets and adzes, and which the Christians call trees. 
canoes ; the others are made of bark, which they put 
together very skilfully, and which are also called canoes. 

Traces of the institution of marriage can just be per- They do nm 
ceived among them, and nothing more. A man and "^*"^' 
woman join themselves together without any particular 



Who do the 
work and 



20 REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

ceremony otherwise than that the man by previous agree- 
ment with the woman gives her some Zeewant or clotii, 
which on their separation, which soon happens, he takes 
again. Both men and women are utterly unchaste and 
^^^midKilte shamelessly promiscuous in their intercourse, which is 
*'J''"^'i"';"^'.y the cause of the men so often changing their wives and 

change their i • i i i /-> i- -i i i , 

wives. the women their husbands. (Jrdmarily they have but 
one wii'e, sometimes two or three, but this is generally 
among the chiefs. They have also among them difi'er- 
ent conditions of persons, such as noble and ignoble. 
The men are generally lazy, and do nothing until they 
become old and unesteemed, when ihey make spoons, 
wooden bowls, bags, nets and other similar articles ; 
beyond this the men do nothing except fish, hunt and go to 
war. The women are compelled to do the rest of the 
work, such as planting corn, cutting and drawing 
how. wood, cooking, taking care of the children and whatever 

else there is to be done. Their dwellings consist of 
Of their hickory saplings, placed upright in the ground and bent 
change of a'- arch-wisc ; the tops are covered with barks of trees, 
bode. which they cut for this purpose in great quantities. Some 

even have within them little boxes and imagery cut out 
rough, with very little design, but these are generally in 
the houses of the chiefs. In the fishing and hunting sea- 
sons, they lie under the open sky or little better. They do 
not live long in one place, but move about several times 
in a year, at such times and to such places as it appears 
beforehand best and easiest for them to obtain subsis- 
tence. 
There is a Tlicy are divided into different tribes and languages, 
chief ^^.ojer each tribe living generally by itself and having one of 
its number as a chief, though he has not much power or 
distinction except in their dances or in time of war. 
They have Amoug somc tlicrc is not the least knowledge of God, 
little know- aiici among others very little, though they relate very 
but \re strange fables concerning Him. 

of'thedevii'! They are in general much afraid of the Devil, who 

to whom receives their adoration ; and some give themselves up 

offerings. to him and thus permit themselves to be wheedled.* 

But their devils, they say, will have nothing to do with 

* The Indian mode of reasoning on this subject is well stated by Biorck, 
in his dissertation De plantatione Ecclesim Suecance in America. Refer- 
ring to their belief in a celestial and terrestrial manitto, he says, " They 
perversely argue that the loriner is not to be adored or feared because he 
is good, but the latter is to be feared and worshipped because he is bad." 



REPRESENTATION OP NEW NETHERLAND. 21 

the Dutch. No haunting of spirits and the like are heard 
of among them- They make oii'erings to the Devil some- 
times, but ^vith few solemnities. They believe in the 
immortality of the soul. They have some knowledge 
of the sun, moon and stars, wliich they understand well 
how to name, and they judge tolerably well about the 
weather. There is hardly any law or iuslice among There i» no 

1 • • x^ 1 ii Ifiw or jus- 

them, except sometimes m war matters, and then very tice among 
little. The nearest blood is the avenger. The youngest '***"'• 
are the most courageous, and do for the most part what 
they please. Their weapons formerly were the bow Their weap- 
and arrow, which they employ with wonderful skill, but bowHmi'ar^- 
they now generally use clap-hammers, and those who j;|^'^^ "'"^'o^^ 
live near the Christians or have manj' dealings with pbiain guns, 
them, have firelocks and hatchets, which they obtain in the" chris- 
trade. They are exceedingly lond of guns, sparing no '""'^• 
expense for them ; and are so skilful in the use of them 
that they surpass many Christians. Their food is coarse 
and simple, drinking water as their only beverage, and 
eating the flesh of all kinds of animals which the coun- 
try afibrds, cooked without being dressed. They eat 
even badgers,dogs, eagles and such like trash, upon which 
Christians place no value. They use all kinds of fish, 
which they commonly cook without removing the en- 
trails, and snakes, frogs and the like. They know how 
to preserve fish and meat during winter, and to cook 
them with corn-meal. They make their bread of maize, 
but it is very plain, and cook it either whole or broken 
in a pestle block. The women do this and make of it 
a pap or porridge, which some of them call Sapsis,* 
others Enimdare, and which is their daily food. They 
mix this also well with small beans of different colors, 
which they plant themselves, but this is held by them as 
a dainty dish more than as daily food. 



BY WHOM NEW NETHERLAND WAS FIRST DISCOVERED, 
AND WHAT ARE ITS BOUNDARIES. 

That New Netherland was first found, claimed and ^a^ ^"""'ta^ 
possessed by Netherlanders, has already been stated ; but ^^^^ "^P^^^'a 

held by Ne- 
• Probably a misprint for Sapaan. therlanders. 



22 REPRESENTATION OF NliVV NETHERLAND. 

in as much as a dispute has arisen, not onl}^ with the 
TheEnsiish Swecles (wljich is of little moment) but especially with 
have seized the English, who have already entered upon and seized a 

a large por- i p • 

tionofit. great part thereof, it is necessary to speak of" each claim 
somewhat at large. 

But because this matter has been treated upon by 
various ingenious minds in its length and breadth, and as 
tbose claims are so absurd as to require only a few 
reasons in answer to them, we will be as brief as is in 
any wise practicable. After their High Mightinesses, 
the Lords IStates General, were pleased, in the year of our 
Lord 1G22, to include tliis province in their grant to the 
Honorable West India Company, their Honors deemed 
it necessary to take into possession so naturally beautiful 
and noble a province, which was immediately done, as 
opportunity offered, the same as in all similar beginnings. 
Four Forts Siucc the year of our Lord 1G23, lour forts have been 
token of pos- Duilt there by order of the Lords Mayors, one on the 
south point of the Manhatans Island, where the East and 
North rivers unite, called New Amsterdam, where the 
staple-right* of New Netherland was designed to be ; 
another upon the same river, six-and-thirty Dutch miles 
higher up, and three miles below the great Cohoes (Koc- 
hoos) fall of the Mohawk's river, (Maquas-kil,) on the 
west side of the river, in the colony of Kenselaerswyck, 
and is called Orange ; but upon this river there has been 
as" to'^''the ^^ y^^ '"'^ dispute witli any foreigners. Upon the South 
North river, riyer lics fort Nassau and upon the Fresh river,f the 
Good Hope. Of these lour forts there has been always, 
from the beginning to the present time some possession, 
very pour although they are all now in a very bad condition, not 

condition °^ , . , "^ ■, -, , *, . 

are useless. Only 111 themselves but also as regards possession. 

These forts, both to the South and North, are so situated 
as to command and pr<jtect not only the said rivers, but 
also the plantations between them, as well as those 
round about them, and on the other side of the river as 
far as the ownership by occupation extends. These the 
Hon. Company declared they owaied and would main- 
tain, against all foreign or domestic powers who should 
attempt to seize them against their consent. Yet on the 
North East side of New Netherland, this declaration 

* Slaple-right is a privilege granted to the inhabitants of a place 
to compel the masters of vessels or merchants trading along their coasts, to 
discharge their cargoes there for sale, or else pay duties. 

t Connecticut River, 



Tlie Forts 
are now in a 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 23 

was not at all rej^arded or observed by the English liv- 
ing to the Eastward ; for notwithstanding posses>ion 
was already fully taken by the building and occupation 
of fort Good Hope, and there was no neglect from time 
to time in warning them, in making known our rights, 
and in protesting against their usurpation and violence, 
they have disregarded all these things and have seized TheEnciish 
and possessed, and still hold, the largest and best part of ForT^Gocdc 
New Netherland, that is, on the East side of the North """p- 
river, from Cape Cod, (by our people in 1609 called 
New Holland, and taken possession of by the setting up their iiigh 
of the Arms of their High Mightinesses.) to within six el' were^'s^et 
miles of the North river, where the English have now a "i',^' ^^^ 

I.. on or iNcvv 

village called .Stamford, from whence it could be travelled iioiiand. 
now, in a summer's day, to the North river and back 
again, if the Indian path were only known. The Eng- 
lish of New Haven also have a trading house, which lies 
East or South East of Magdalen Island, and not more The EnpUsh 
than six miles from the North river, in which this Island frmn''^ ""the 
lies, on the East side twenty three and a half miles above ^°^^^ "^■^'^^ 
Fort Amsterdam.* This trading post was established 
for no other purpose than to divert the trade of the North 
river or to destroy it entirely. They have also endeav- 
ored several times, during eight or nine years past, to 
buy of the Indians a large quantity of land, (which would 
have served more than any other thing to draw off the 
trade,) as we have understood from the Indians ; for the 
post is situated not more than three or lour miles from 
the East bounds of the Colony of Renselaerswyck. 

This and similar dilliculties these people now wish to 
lay to our charge, all under the pretence of a very 
clear conscience, notwithstanding King James, of most 
glorious memory, chartered the Virginia Companies up- TheVireinia 
on condition that they should remain an hundred miles were7o*^^re- 
from each other, according to our reckoning. They are '"«'» ^ hnn- 
^villing to avail themselves of this grant, but by no apart. 
means to comply with the terms stipulated in it. 

All the islands, bavs, havens, rivers, kilst and places, -'^", ^^° '^': 

' .■' ' ' ' ' , i ' ands and 

even to a great distance on the other side ol New ilol- hays have 
land or Cape Cod, have Dutch names, which our Dutch na'mc"''" 
ship masters and traders gave to them ; who were the 

* Between the landings of Redhook. The trading post of the English 
here spoken of was that of .Air. Pinchon on the Connecticut. 

t A kil is a small stream, not entitled to be called either a strait or a river. 



24 FT'.PRESENTATION OF NEW NETHF.RLAND. 

first to discover and to trade to them, even before they 
had names, as the English themselves well know ; but 
as long as they could do as they pleased, they were wil- 
ling not to know it. And those of them who are at the 
oiMh^Fresh Fresli river, have desired to enter into an agreement to 
river offered makc a vearlv acknowledfi-ment, or an absolute nur- 

tn make an , i • i • i i • '" ,■• ■ ■ i • i 

acknowieiig- chase, w'hich, indeed, is prool positive that our right 
"'^"'' was well known to them, and that they themselves had 

nothing against it in conscience, although they now, 
from time to time, have invented and pretended many 
things in order to screen themselves, or thereby to cause 
delay. 

Moreover the people of Rhode Island, when they were 
at variance with those of the Bay,* sought reiuge 
among the Dutch, and sojourn among them. For all 
these things, and what we shall relate in the following 
The original pagcs, there are proofs and documents enough, either 
documents" with the Secretary of the company or with the directors. 
IZJnn ^Tf I'^ short, it is just this with the English, they are 
the secreta- willing to kuow the Nethcrlandei's, and to use them as 
officers of a protection in time of need, but when that is past, they 
the company ^^^ longer regard them, but play the fool with them. 
This happens so only because we have neglected to 
populate the land ; or, to speak more plainly and truly, 
because w-e have out of regard for our own profit, wish- 
ed to scrape all the fat into one or more pots, and thus 
secure the trade and neglect population. 

Long Island, which, on account of its fine bays and 
Long Island bavcus, and good lands, is a crown for the Province, 
oVNewNe" ^^^^^ have also seized upon, except, on the west end, two 
theriand. Dutch villagcs — Breuckcleu and Amersvoort,t not of 
much importance — and some English villages, as Graves- 
end, Greenwich and Mespat, (from which the people 
were driven off during the war, and which was after- 
There are a wai'ds Confiscated by Director Kieft : but as the owners 
aTiviaspTthf appealed therefrom, it remains so still, though there are 
h • iio^^ a very few people in the place :) also, Vlissengen,J 
pretty vii- whicli is a pretty village and tolerably rich in cattle. 
lage. rj>jjg fourth and last village is Hempstead, which is su- 

of Lon-isi- perior to the rest, for it is very rich in cattlf\ 
and in par- As wc are uow ou the subject of liOng Island, we 

ticular. 

* ^.Tnssacliusetts. Roser W'iliiains embarked from Kew Amsitfrdam for 
England in lf)43. being interdicted Roston. 

t Flatland.s. t Flushing. 



for 
afier 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETIIERLAND. 25 

will, because the English claim it, speak of it somewhat 
particularly. The ocean is on the. south, and the East 
river on the north side ot it ; and as we have said, it is 
on account of its good situation, of its land, and of its 
convenient harbors, and anchoring places — a crown 
for New Nethcrland. The East river «eparates it from 
Manathans Island as far as the Hellegat. It is tolera- 
bly wide and convenient ; and has been inhabited Ijy 
our freemen from the first, according as opportunities 
ofiered. In the year 1640, a Scotchman, with an J'^";?- ^ g^^,^^. 
lish commission, was arrested by Director William Kieft. man cr.ine 
He laid claim to the island, but his pretension was not rnfrci'.i.ne'd 
much regarded ; for which reason he departed without "'e island, 
accomplishing any thing, having influenced only a few 
simple people. Director Kieft also afterwards sent and 
broke up the English who wished to begin a settlement 
at Oyster Bay, and thus it has remained from that time 
to the present. 

In the year 1647, a Scotchman came here, who called Forester, go 
himself Captain Forester, and claimed this island for J'he"j,';„. ' 
the Dowager of Sterling, whose governor he gave him- oi sterling 
self out to bo. He had a commission dated in the 18th 
year of King James' reign, but it was not signed by his 
Majesty or any body else. Appended to it was an old 
seal which we could not decipher. His commission em- 
braced the whole of Long Island, together with five 
leagues round about it, as well the main land as islands. 
He had also full authority from Mary, dowager of Ster- 
ling, but this was all. ZVevertheless the man was very 
consequential, and said on his first arrival, that he came 
here to see Governor Stuyvesant's commission, and if 
that was better than his, he was willing to give way ; if 
not, Governor Stuyvesant must yield to him. To make 
the matter short, the Director took copies of the papers 
and sent the man to Holland in the Falconer ; but as this 
vessel put into England, the man did not reach Holland, 
having escaped there, and never troubling the captain 
afterwards. The English have since boasted of lliis 
very loudly, and have also given out that he had again 
arrived at Boston, but we have not seen him. It is to 
be apprehended that if he has come now, some new act 
will be committed, for which reason it would be well to 
hasten the redress of New Netherland.* 

• See Note A, post. 
4 



26 



RKI'RESENTATION OV N£VV NETIIEKLAND. 



OF THE FRESH RIVER. 



After Fort Good Hope, begun in the year 1G23,* on the 

Fret-h river, was linished, sometime had ehipsed when 

an English bark arrived there. Jacob Van Curler, Com- 

Ti.e EiiRiiMi missary of the Company, by order of Director Wouter 

some failli- ^'^'^ Twiller, protested against it, but notwithstanding 

lies to the his prolcst lliev did, a year or two afterwards, come 

I'fi'schc He- . t -» 

vwr, iioi- there with some families. A protest was also made 
hiK'our"i!ro- iigainst them; but it was very manifest that these peo- 
t'^^'^t- ])le had little respect for it, for notwithstanding our pro- 

tests they have iinally seized and possessed th(^ whole of 
litiuf rejiard thc Frcsli rlvcr, and have j)roceeded so far in their shame- 
lesf^'""^ and ^^^^ courso as, iu the year 1G40, to seize the company's 
seize aiiuo.t famis at tlic Fort, paying no regard to the protests which 
the river?" We made. They have gone even still further, and have 
belabored the Company's people with sticks and heavy 
They iieat clubs ; and have forciblv thrown into the I'iver their 

our people i i • " i -i i i 

and destroy plouglis aucl othcr Histruments, while they were on the 
ments.""'''^ land lor the pm-pose of working, and have let their 
horses loose. The same things have happened very fre- 
quently. They also obtained the hogs and cows belong- 
'jhrn sell ing to the Fort, and several times sold some of them ibr 
our cattle. ^^^^ purposc, as they said, of repairing the damage. 
Against all these acts, and each one in particular, pro- 
tests were repeatedly made, but they were met with 
ridicule. There were several letters written in Latin to 
their governors; of which letters and protests, minutes 
or copies remain "with the Company's officers, from 
which a much fuller account of these transactions could 
They have ^6 made. But all opposition was in vain, for having 
set their Y^r^^ ^ smack of the goodness and convenience of this 
the lountry river, and discovered the difference between the land 
he'eas'i'i'y''H- there and that more easterly, they would not go back ; 
verted from j^^j. "would they put themsclves under the ])rotection of 
their High Mightinesses, although they were res|)ectfully 
exhorted thereto, as was desirable from the lirst they 
should have done. 

* A inispritit for 11)33. 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 27 



OF THE RIGHT OF THE NETHERLANDERS TO THE FRESH 

RIVER. 

To speak from the boginninir, our people had carefully °,"J!e '*®7he 
explored and discovered the most northerly parts of New ^"'"- ">.<ai<e 

1 mj X possession of 

Netherland and some distance on the other side of Cape the country 
Cod, as it is called, before the Ensjlish were known here, much n" u.' 
and had set up our Arms upon Cape Cod as an act of 
possession, hi the year 1614 our traders had not only 
traded at the Fresh lliver, but had also ascended it be- 
fore any English had ever dreamed of going there, which 
they did first in the year 1G3G, alter our fort, the Good 
Hope, had been a long time /?? esse and most all the 
lands on both sides the river had been purchased by our 
people from the Indians, which purchase took place prin- 
cipally in the year 1032. Kievets-hoeck* was also pur- 
chased at the same time by one ITans den 81uys, an 
officer of the company. At this place the States' arms 
had been aflixed to a tree in token of possession ; but _,. _ ... 

,^ J he bnelisn 

the English who now pos.sess the r resh River have torn thmw down 
them down and engraved a ridiculous face in their place, i-'heir'^'insh 



Millhtines 
i;ul 



Whether this was done by authority or not, cannot be 
positively asserted ; it is however supposed that it was. ui> [^ ■;"''.'"■ 
It has been so charged upon them in several letters, but it nieir piacc. 
has never been followed up. Besides the)- have, contra 
jus s^entium, j)er fas et nefas, invaded the whole river, 
for the reason, as thej^ say, that the land was lying idle 
and waste, which was not true at the time they came ; 
for there was already built upon the river a fort which 
continued to be possessed by a garrison. There was 
also a large brewery near the fort, belonging to the 
Dutch or the Company. Most of the land was bought 
and appropriated and the arms of their High ^ligh- 
tinesses were set up at KievetsIIoeck, which is situated 
at the mouth of the river, so that every thing was done Every thing 
that could be done except that the country was not all iuIucoxm"^ 
actually occupied. The . ,nglish therefore wished to d"nc, except 

, *^ 1 '^ . f, . ^ . , . , ppii|)lin!; the 

regard it the same as it it were in their power to estab- country. 
lish laws tor our nation in its own purchased lands and 
limits, and direct how and in what manner it should in- 
troduce people into the country. But it does not turn 

• Now called Saybrook Point. Kierit, or Kieirit, is the bird pewit. 



28 REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

out exactly, according- to tlicir desire and pleasure, that 
they have the right to invade and appropriate these 
waters, lands and jurisdiction to themselves. 



OF THE RODEN-BERCH, BY THE ENGLISH CALLED NEW 
HAVEN, AND OTHER PLACES OF LESS IMPORTANCE. 

The number of villages in the possession of the Eng- 
lish viiiaiies lish, I'rom New Holland or Cape Cod to Stamford, within 
manyinhii'b'- the limits of the Netherlanders, is about thirty, and they 
itini^ they niav coutaiu live thousand men capable of bearins; arms. 

coiitiiin. •'. , ' . II- 

Their cattle, cows and horses are estimated at thirty 
thousand ; their goats and hogs cannot be stated, as 
neither of them can be fully known because there are 
several places which cannot well pass for villages, but 
which nevertheless are beginnings of villages. Among 
the villages, Roden-Berch,* or New Haven, is the first. 
New Haven |j jjr^g ^ Govemoi', contaius about three hundred and 

IS one ol the . „ ... , . r i i p i tt • i 

New Enii- iorty lamilies, and is one oi the members of the I'nited 
'"s, which Colonies of i\ew England, of which there are four in all. 



nies, 



are four in 

all. 



This place was begun eleven yeas ago, in the year 
1038, since when the people have broken otf and formed 
Milford, vStratford, Stamlbrd a.nd the trading house 
before spoken of, &c. 

Director Kieft has caused several protests to be drawn 
up, in Latin and in other languages, commanding them by 
virtue of his commissions irom the Lords States General, 
His Highness the Prince of Orange and the Most Noble 
Directors of the Chartered West India Company, to 
desist from their proceedings and usurpations, and 
warning them, in case they did not, that we would, as 
rru T- ,. , soon as a fit opportunity should present, exact of them 

The bnglish .„. if 5^ • 7;- 71 

continue to satisfaction thereior. Jbut it icas knocking at a dead 
h^mfs, disre*- man's door, as they did not regard these protests or even 
f.mt'('st\ am! ^akc any notice of them; on the contrary they have 
jiistifyiiiE sought many subterfuges, circumstances, ialse jiretences 
by s'ubteriu- and sopliistical arguments to give color to their doings, 
^^^' and to throw a cloud upon our lawilii title and valid 

rights, in order to trick us out of them. General Stuy- 
vesant also has had many questions with them, growing 

• Ried-Mc'tnaia. 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLANU. 29 

out of this matter, but it remains as it was. The utmost 

that they have ever been willing to come to, is to declare 

that the dispute could not be settled in this country, and 

that they desired and were satisfied that their High 

jNIightinesses should arrange it with their sovereign. It 

is highly necessary that this should be done, inasmuch 

as the English have already seized, and are in possession They have 

of, almost half of New Netherland, which hereafter must m' xew .nV 

be of very great importance. It is therefore heartily to '^eruind. 

be desired that their High Mightinesses will be pleased 

to take this subject into serious consideration before it 

shall go further, and the breach become irreparable. 

We must now pass to the South river, called by the 
English Delaware Baj', first speaking of the boundaries ; 
but before doing so, we cannot omit to say that there 
has been here, both in the time of Director Kieft and in 
that of General Stuyvesant, a certain Ensrlishman, who _. _. . 

nil- If n- T-i 1 1 -r»i •' 1 1 -1 p Sir Edward 

called himseli fen' Edward rlowden. with the title ol pioeydcn, 
Earl Palatine of New Albion, who claimed that the land oi^ New aT 
on the West side of the North river to Virginia was his, [j|"^j' '='""",' 
by gift of King James of England, but he said he did not n«w Neih- 
wish to have any strife with the Dutch, though he was 
very much piqued at the Swedish Governor, John Printz, 
at the South river, on account of some afiront given him, 
too long to relate. He said that when an opportunity 
should offer he would go there and take possession of the 
river. In short it amounts to this, according to the 
claims of the English, that there is nothing left for the 
subjects of Their High Mightinesses, — one must have 
this far, and another that far, but as between themselves 
they never fall short.* 



erland. 



OF THE SOUTH RIVER AND THE BOUNDARIES THERE. 

As we have now come to speak of the South River 
and the most southerly portion of New Netherland, we 
will, since it is well distinguished from the other part, re- 
late every thing from the beginning, and as briefly as is 
practicable. The boundaries, as we find them, extend 
to Cape Henlopen, many miles south of Cape Cornelius, 

• See Note B. post. 



'^" RKPRESENTATION OF NKVV NETHERLAND. 

at the lallrude of thirty-ei^'ht degrees. The coast 
stretches, one course with another, west-southwest and 
west, and although this Cape Henlopen is not much 
esteemed, it is neverfheless proper that it should be 
brought to our attention, as being well situated, not only 
in regard to the position of the country, but also as 
The Knjiiish relates to the trade with the Indians at the South river, 

011(1 swedes i • i ^ i m i- i i ti i • • ,• 

;'re luaking wlucli tuc ii,nglish and bwedes are strivmg after very 
?ions ior'th''e hard, as we will show. When the boundaries of this 
souai °' I'i V- country shall be settled, these people should without fur- 
or, which ther question be ousted, and both the enjoyment ot the 
uie"''hnnn'^ productions of the land and the trade be retained tor the 
fiMrv. subjects of Their High Mightinesses. 



OF THE SOUTH BAY AND SOUTH RIVER. 

The latitude ^'""^ Soutli Bay and South River, ])y many called the 
Bm'!'V'^"""' '^*"c°"*^^ great river of New Netherland, is situated at the 
£3roin^^'''"* latitude of 38 degrees 53 minutes. It has two head- 
lands or capes. — the more northerly bearing the name 
of Cape ]May, the more southerly, that of Cape Cornelius. 
The bay was called Newport-May. but at the presenttime 
is known as Godyn's l)ay. These names were given to the 
It was di^ places about (he time of their (irst discovery, beiore any 
covereii in othcrs Were glvcu them. The discovery, moreover, took 

the year ) GOO i ^ ^i .- • i i ,. i -Jt i ■.-.• 

by the Ki,i|. place at the same trnie with that ot the North River, and 
N.ivrMao. \^y ^-j^p same ship and persons, who entered the South Bay 
before they came to the North River, as is all to be read, 
at length, in the " Nieuive Werell'' of .Tohannes de Laet. 
At the same time that the forts were laid out on the 
North and Fresh rivers, after (zedert) the year 1623, 
F/'ft N'jssaii fort Nassau was erected upon this river, which, in com- 
the tour. " mon parlance, is called the South river. It was the first 
of the four, and was built with the same object and de- 
sign as the others, as hereinbefore related. It lies on the 
east bank, but it would have done as well on the west 
bank, fifteen miles up the river. The bay runs lor the 
most part north and south; is called Newport-May or 
Godyn's bay ; and is nine miles long before you come 
to the river, and six miles wide, so that you cannot see 
from one side to the other. On account of certain bars 
it is somewhat dangerous for inexperienced navigators 



REPRESENTATION OP NEW NETHERLAND. 31 

but not SO Ibr those who are acquainted with the chan- 
nels. This bay and river is compared by its admirers 
with the river Amazon, that is, by sucli of them as have j[^*'!',,„^"M'^?l 
seen both ; each ol" which is considered one of the most «r i.re com- 
beautiful, and the best and pleasantest rivers in the world ihV,se who 
of itself and as regards others convenient to it. Four- ^^^''■'' jy^"Jj 
teen streams empty into this river, the least of them nav- Amazon. 
igable lor two or three miles ; and on both sides there 
are tolerably level lands of great extent. Two miles TJ?^^ ^"^^^^ 
from Cape Cornelius, where you enter on the west side, lies navi:;Kbie 
a certain kil, which might be taken for an ordinary river 
or stream, being navigable far up, and affording a beau- 
tiful road-stead for ships of all burdens. There is no 
other like it in the whole bay for safety and convenience. 
The main channel ibr navigation runs close by the place 
we call the Hoere-kil. From whence this name is de- 
rived we do not know,* so long is it since this place was 
taken and colonized by Netherlanders, years beibre any 
English or ►Swedes came there. The {States' arms were 
set up at this place in copper, but as they were thrown ^^^^ states' 
down by some mischievous Indians, the Commissary there arms were 
very firmly insisted upon, and demanded, the head of i',erorC i^ile 
the offender. The Indians not knowing otherwise g"^l]\^^ °' 
brought a head, saying it was his ; and the affair was came, 
supposed to be all settled, but some time afterwards, 
when our people were working unsuspectingly in their 
fields, the Indians came in the guise of friendship, and 
distributing themselves among the Dutch in proportionate 
numbers, surprised and murdered them. By this means i„ conse- 
the Colony was again reduced to nothing; but it was ','he" murder 
nevertheless sealed with blood and dearly enough bought, "i" 'he coio- 

There is another kil on the east side called the Varck- iioere-kii, 
ens kil, (Hog creek,)t three miles within the mouth of ^^f^' ""JZl 
the river. Here some J-higlish had settled themselves, >*.''" ^"^ * 
but Director Kieft protested against their proceedings, 
and drove them away, having been assisted in doing so, 
somewhat, by the Swedes, who had agreed with him to 
keep out the English. The Swedish Governor, consid- 
ering an opportunity then ofTered to him, caused a P'ort The swedes 

. 1 -1 11 11 1 m • 7 • 1 • built Kort 

to be buiit at this place, called Hjlsinborg,]. and mam- Eisinburgh. 

■^ It means harlot's creek, and wasso called, according to the Kort Verhael, 
from a well known custom of the Indians towards strangers, which was there 
praciiced by them towards the Dutch who first came to that place. 

t Now called Salem Creek. 

T Afterwards destroyed by the Leiuii Lenape, on its abandonment by the 
Swedes, who left it in consequence, not of Dutch prowess, but of the musquitoes. 



32 EEPRESENTATIOX OP NEW NETHERLAND, 

fests there great boldness towards every one, even over 
the Company's boats. All who go to the South river, 
must strike the flag before this Fort, none excepted ; 
and two men are sent on board to ascertain from whence 
the yachts or ships come. It is not much better than 
exercising the right of search. It will, to all appearance, 
The Swedes comc to this iu the end. What authority these people 
ri?ht to the cau have to do this, we know not ; nor can we compre- 
south river, j^end how ofiicers of other potentates, (as they them- 
selves say they are, but what commission they have we 
do not yet know,) can make themselves master ol', and 
assume authority over, land and goods belonging to and 
possessed by other people, and sealed with their blood, 
independently of the patent. The 3Iinquas-kil* is the 
first upon the river, and there the Swedes have built 
Fort Christina. This place is well situated, as large 
ships can lie close against the shore to load and unload. 
There is, besides others, a place on the river called 
Schuylkihf (a convenient and navigable stream.) here- 
tofore possessed by the Netherlanders, but how is it 
now ? The Swedes have it almost entirely under their 
Several pia domiuiou. Thcrc are in the river several beautiful large 
South" river inlands, and other places which were formerly possessed 
in posses- by (lie Ncthcrlanders, and which still bear the names 
people. given by them. These facts, with various other matters, 
constitute sutlicient and abundant proof that the river be- 
longs to the Netherlanders, and not to the Swedes, whose 
beginnings can be shown by witnesses to have been 
The Swedes made ouly eleven years ago, in the year 1638, J when 
e\ra'^tolnhoid ouc Minue-iclfs, wlio bcforc that time had had the Di- 
on ihesouth rection at the Manathans, on behalf of the West India 
trickery. ^ Company, arrived in the river with the ship Knhner- 
S/eiitel, (Key of Calmar.) and the yacht, VogeJ-Gryp, 
(GrilTen,) giving out to the Netherlanders who lived up 
the river, under the Company, and the Heer Vander Ne- 
derhorst, that he was on a voyage to the West Indies, 
and that })assing by there, he wished to do some repairs, 
and to furnish the ships with water and wood, and 
would th(Mi leave. Some time ai'terwards, some of our 
makeTutue pcoplc goiug there again, found that the Swedes had 
garden. douc morc, and had already made a small garden for 
raising salads, pot-herbs and the like. They wondered 
at this, and inquired of the Swedes what it meant, and 

* ChiistiiKi Creek, ■y 'TvSii\s\-died Skulkiiigcreek. J See Note C. post. 



REPRESENTATION OF M-VV WLiriERLAND. 33 

whether they intended to stay there. Tliey excused 
ihcHLselves by various reasons and subterfuges, but not- 
withstanding vvhicli, it was supposed such was their de- 
sign. Still later became apparent, from their build- 
ing a fort, what their intentions were. Director Kieft, 
when he obtained information of the matter, protested 
against it, but in vain. It was plainly and clearly to Protestmade 
be seen, in the progress of the afiair, that they did not s't'ue''";,rii.s 
intend to leav(\ It is matter of evidence that above '*^'"''- 
Mas;hch(ic}iansie* near the Sanhihans,-] the arms of Their 
High Mightinesses were erected by order of Director 
Kielt, as a symbol that the river, with all the country 
and the lands around there, were held and owned under 
Their High Mightinesses. But what Iruits has it pro- 
duced as yet, other than continued derision and deroga- 
tion of dignity ? For the Swedes, with intolerant inso- .^^g ci^e^gg 
lence, have thrown down the arms, which are sutfered tear .loun 

the Slates 

to remain so, and this is looked upon by them, and par- arms, 
ticularly by their Governor, as a Roman achievement. 
True, we have made several protests, as well against 
this as other transactions, but they have had as much 
effect as the flying of a ci'ovji overhead; and it is believed 
that if this Governor had a supply of men, there would 
be more madness in him than there has been iu the ,„, 

■n 1 • 1 f I • /-I I 1 • i> • , J lie olficers 

ii.nglisli, or any oi then* Governors. In briel, \n regard or the t .un- 
to the Swedes, the Company's officers will be able to p;\"ea Tuner 
make a more pertinent explanation, as all the papers "hrpmce'ed- 
remain with them ; besides, it is to their journals we j"?s of the 

, ,. Swedes. 

ourselves reler. 

The English have sought at difl^erent times and places 
to colonise this river, which they say, is annexed to their 
territory, but this has as yet been prevented by different 
protests. We have also expelled them by force, well driven "fmm 
knowing that if they once settled there, we should lose ^''^'^""'hri- 
the river or hold it with difficulty, as they would swarm 
there in great numbers. There are great reports daily, 
that the English will soon repair there with many fami- 
lies. It is certain that if they do come and nestle down 
there, they will soon possess it so completely, that neither 
Hollanders nor Swedes, in a short time, will have much 
to say ; at least, we run a chance of losing the whole, 

* Mnghchachansie, or, as it is spelt by Campanius, Mehansin-sippus, was, 
86 its termination denotes, a small stream which emptieci into the Delaware 
on the east side, probably Crosswick creek at Bordentown. 

t The Sankikans were seated at Assinpink, now Trenton. 

5 



The Bewint 
hcbhrrs do 



34 REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

or the c:reatost part of the river, if remarl\'a])le precau- 
tion be not used. It could be retained if theie were a 
popidation ; but the Managers oj" the Company to this 
day have had no regard to peoj)ling the country worth 
t'hr 'c'm'ni'ry the whilc, thoLigh the subject has Ijeen lully brought be- 
gmw'ih'."' '" ^'"^'6 them in several documents. They have been other- 
wise employed ; for it has been with this matter as 
with the rest, that avai-ice has l)linded wisdom. The 
report now is that the English intend to build a village 
and trading house there ; and indeed if they begin, there 
is nobody in this country who, on the company's behall", 
can or apparently will, make much eiibrt to prevent 
Certain Ne- them. Not longer ago than last vear, several free per- 

tlierlanaers .„ r- '^i "" " ' i i i 

spektncsta- SOUS,' somc ot whom wcrc our owu countrymcu who had 
selves 'nn'"' ^^' could havo good umstcrs in Fatherland, wished to es- 
tiieSdiiihri- tablish a trading house and erect some breweries in the 

ver, but ii> , . ,. . , 

vain. plantation, upon condition that certain privileges and 

exemptions should be extended to them ; but this was 
refused by the General, saying, that he could not do it, 
not having any order or authority from the noble Lords 
Mayors ; but if they w'ere willing to begin there without 
privileges, they could do so. And when we represented 
to His Honor that such were oifered by our neighbors 
all around us, if we would only declare ourselves willing 
to be called members of their government, and that this 
place ran a thousand dangers from the Swedes and 
u'.'ruir.nvr" English, His Honor answered that it was well known to 
tiie hiMine of be as wc said, (as he himself did, in I'act, well know,) and 
"ing the'"'^ that the reason was also belbre us, that the orders which 
countrj up- j^g \-^Q^^\ fpom the Mayors t were so, and he could not 
pany. auswcr for them. Now we are ignorant in these mat- 

ters, but one thing or the other must be true, either 
it is the fault oi' the Director or Managers, or of both of 
them. However it may be, one shifts the blame upon 
the other, and between them both every thing goes to 
ForeiKners Tuin. Foreigners enjoy the country and fare very well ; 
I'ierand'p'ri- ^^^y laugh at US if wc Say any thing ; they enjoy privi- 
viieges. leges and exemptions, which, if our Netherlanders had 
enjoyed as they do, would Mdthout doubt, next to the 
help of God, without which we are powerless, have en- 
abled our people to flourish as w^ell or better than they 

* Free persons were those who came to New NetherlanJ, not as colonists 
under the patroons, or as employes of the West India Company, but on 
their own account. 

t Managers, called Majors. 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 35 

do; ergo, the Company or their oOicers have hitherto 
been and are still the cause of its not farinjz; better with .y^^^^ j^ „„ 
the country. On account of their cupidity and bad j;';';"'';'',';,',^,;'^!' 
management there is no hope, so long as the land is un- iKinc heitcr 
der their government, that it will go on any better ; but "^ '^^ 'SJ 
it will grow worse. This, however, is not the proper J^'|« compa- 
place to speak of these things. 



OF THE SITUATION AND GOODNESS OF THE WATERS. 

Having given an account of the situation of the country 
and its boundaries, and having consequently spoken of 
the location of the rivers, it will not be foreign to our 
purpose to add a word as to the goodness and conven- 
ience of the waters ; v/hich are salt, brackish, or fresh, 
according to their locality. There are in New Nether- There are 
land four principal rivers; the most southerly is usually v""s in^New 
called the .South river, and the bay at its entrance, '^etheriand. 
Godyn's Bay. It is so called not because it runs to the 
south, but because it is the most southerly river in New 
Netherland. Another which this lies south of or nearest 
to, and which is the most important as regards trade 
and population, is called Rio Montanjes, from certain 
mountains, and Mauritius river, but generally, the North 
river, because it reaches farthest north. The third is the j^JlgrlTlo 
East river, so called because it runs east of the Man- cmied be 

1 rT\i • ■ 111 , ■ \ ±. cause It runs 

athans. This is regarded by many not as a river but as east and 
a bay, because it is extremely wide in some places and ^^®'"' 
connects at both ends with the sea. We however con- 
sider it a river and such it is commonly reckoned. The 
fourth is called the Fresh river, because the water is for 
the most part fresh, more so than the others. Besides 
these rivers, there are many bays, havens and inlets, 
very convenient and useful, some of which might well 
be classed among rivers. There are numerous bodies 
of water inland, some large, ot'iers small, besides navi- 
gable kils like rivers, and many creeks very advanta- 
geous for the purpose of navigating through the country, 
as the map of New Netherland will prove. There are ^J"J!ims""" 
various waterfalls and streams, kils tit to erect mills of 
all kinds upon for the use of man. and innumerable small 
rivulets over the whole country, like veins in the body ; 



M 


my 






si> 


■illfIS 




nd 


I'o 


111 tains 




SI) 


lie o 


t 




\v 


licli 






smoke 


in 




winter 




ml 



86 RBPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

but they are all fresh water, except some on the sea 
shore, which are salt and fresh or l)rackisli.but very good 
both for wild and domestic animals to drink. The surplus 
waters are lost in the rivers or in the sea. Besides all 
these there are fountains without number, and springs all 
over, even at places where water would not be expected ; 
as on clilis and rocks whence spring veins are certain to 
issue. Some of them are worthy of being remembered, 

i'lrsiiminp'r''' ^^^ ^ttly bccausc they are all (except in the thickets) 
very clear and pure, Imt because many have these prop- 
erties, that in the winter they smoke from heat, an:l in 
summer are so cool that the hands can hardly be endured 
in them on account of the cold, not even in the hot- 
test of the summer; which circumstance makes them 
pleasant for the use of man and beast, who can partake 
of them without danger ; for if any one drink thereof, it 
does him no harm although it be very warm weather. 
Thus much of the proprietorsliip, location, goodness and 
fruitfulness oi this province, in which particulars, as far 

xew xeth- j^g our little experience extends, it need vield to no 

erlaiid Yields . . ^-i * i " i • 

i« no jirov- j)rovince in hiurope. As to what concerns trade, — m 

r'o'iie. " '" which Europe and especially Netherland is pre-eminent, 

vit;!!i!ea"tbr ^^ '^^t oul}^ llcs vcry convenient and proper for it, but if 

trade. there were inhabitants, it would be found to have more 

commodities of and in itself to export to other countries 

than it would have to import Irom them. These things 

considered, it woukl be little labor for the mind to estimate 

and compute exactly what importance this naturally noble 

province is to the Netherland nation, what service it could 

.wat"id'van'^ rcndcr it in future, and what a retreat it Avould be for 

fas!e to the all the uccdy in Netherland, as well of high and middle, 

nation here as of low degree ; for it is much easier for all men of en- 

^^^^''' terprise to obtain a livelihood here than in Netherland. 

,|,i_^^^j.^ j^ We cannotsufficiently thank the Fountain of all Good- 

c.hi that lie ness for His having led us into such a fruitfid and 

the x'.'iher healthl'ul land, which we, with our numerous sins, still 

'.vi't'tl t'l'i.'s'"" heaped up here daily, beyond measure, have not deserv- 

country. ed. We are also in the highest degree beholden to the 

Indians, who not only have given up to us this good and 

fruitful country, and for a trifle yielded us the ownership, 

but also have enriched us with their valuable trade, so 

that there is no one in New Netherland or who trades 

to New Netherland without obligation to them. Great 

is our disgrace now, and happ}' should we have been, 

had we acknowledged these benefits as we ought, and 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 87 

had wo striven to impart as much as was in our power, 

to the hidians, the Eternal Good, in return lor what they 

divided with us. It is to be feared that at the Last Day 

they will stand up against us for this injury. Lord of 

Rulers ! forgive us lor not having conducted therein 

more according to our reason ; give us also the means 

and so direct our hearts that we in future may acquit 

ourselves as we ought for the salvation of our own souls 

and of theirs, and for the magnifying of thy Holy Name, 

for the sake of Christ. Amen. 

To speak with deference, it is proper to look beyond The trouble 

the trouble which will be incurred in adjusting the o" se^uinll''^ 

boundaries and the first cost of increasing the population J^f^ ,'?,'u""^be 

of this country, and to consider that beginnings are difh- overiooke.i 

, 11 • 111 • 1 '^ -PI ""'' '"" '"'' 

cult and that sowmg would be irksome it the sower pnriance or 

were not cheered with the hope of reaping. We trust consiuered^ 
and so assure ourselves that the very great experience of 
Their High Mightinesses will dictate better remedies 
than we are able to suggest. But it may be that Their 
High Mightinesses and some other friends, before whom 
this may come, may think strange that we speak as 
highly of this place as we do, and as we know to be 
true, and yet complain of want and poverty, seek relief, 
assistance, redress, lesstming of command, population 
and the like, and show that the country is in a poor and 
ruinous condition ; yea, so much so, as that without 
special aid and assistance it will utterly fall off and pass 
under foreign rule. It will therefore be necessary to 
point out the true reasons and causes why 7\'ew Nether- 
land is in so bad a state, which we will do as simply 
and truly as possible, according to the facts, as we have 
seen, experienced, and heard them ; and as this state- 
ment will encounter much opposition and reproach from 
many persons who may take ofience at it, we humbly 
pray Their High Mightinesses and all well wishers, ][,enj*o''/®'},e 
that they do not let the truth yield to any falsehoods, in- causes and 
vented and embellished for the purpose, and that they New"Neth- 
receive no other testimony against this relation than liepressid*a 
that of such impartial persons as have not had, either condition. 
directly or indirecti)', any hand therein, and are not in- ex'ceedineiy 
juriously affected by the loss of New Netherland, or are"eiposed 
otherwise under obligation to it. With this remark we ''v it- 
proceed to the reasons and sole cause of the evil which 
we correctly but briefly and indistinctly stated in the be- 
ginning of our petition to Their High Mightinesses. 



38 REPRESEXTATIOX OF XEU" XETHERLAXD. 

OF THE REASONS AND CAUSES WHY AXD HOW NEW 
XETHERLAXD IS SO DECAYED. 

Bad govern- As we shall speak ot' the reasons and causes which 
"!n 'of Vew have brought Xew Xetherland into the ruinous condition 
Neiheriand. jn "which it is uow found to be. we deem it necessary to 
state the very tirst ditticulties, and for this purpose re- 
gard it as M-e see and find it. in our daily experience. 
As far as our understanding goes, to describe it in one 
word, (and none better presents itself.) it is had govern- 
Tnent. with its attendants and consequences, that is the 
true and only ioundation stone of the decay and ruin of 
Tiiegoyern- Xcw Xethcrlaud. This government from which so 
much abuse proceeds, is two fold, that is : in the Fath- 
erland bv the ^Managers, and in this country. "* ^A e 
shall first briefly and in some order point out the mis- 
takes in Fatherland, and aiterwards proceed to show 
how abuses have grown up and obtained strength here. 
The Managers ot the Company adopted a wrong 
course at first, and as we t'nink had more regard for 
their own interest than for the welfare of the country^ 
wrong t-Mi- trugfij^g rather to evil than just counsels. This is proven 
by the unnecessary expenses incurred from time to time, 
the heavy accounts of Xew IXetherland.r the registering 
of manors — in which business most of the ^lanagers 
themselves engaged, and in reference to which they have 
regulated the trade, — and finally the not peopling the 
countrv. It seems as if from the first, the Company 
have sousfht to stock t.is land with their own employes^ 
which was a great mistake, for when their time was 
The ?er- out they returned home, taking nothing with them, ex- 
Inmp=.nV''^" cept a little in their purses and a bad name for the 
c'nfa:'rv^ a couutrv. in regard to its means of sustenance and in oth- 
ba.d name, er resDects. In the meantime there was no profit, but 
on the contrary heavy monthly expenditures, as the ac- 
counts of rSew Z\etherland will show. 

Had the Honorable ^Vest India Company, in the be- 
ginning, sought population instead of running to great 
expense for unnecessary things, which under more favor- 
able circumstances misht have been suitable and verv 



• V;z : by the Director and Council. 

T Ti.e West India Company had, between the years 1626 and 1644, ex- 
pended for New Netheriand the sum of §220,000. 



the 


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r~ 


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ted 


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REPBESEXTATIOy OF XEW NETHERLAXD. 39 

proper, the account of Xew Netherland would not have 
been so large as it now is, caused by building the ship 
New Netherland at an excessive outlay, by erecting 
three expensive mills, by brick making, by tar-burning, 
by ash-burnine, by salt making and like operations, 
which through bad management and calculation have 
all gone to nought, or come to little ; but which never- 
theless have cost much. Had the same money been 
used in brinsring people and importing cattle, the country 
would now have been ot great value. 

The land itself is much better and it is more conven- 
iently situated than that which the English possess, and ^'ifer'"*!! " 
if there were no interference with individual gain and [^"j;^.^""j 
private trade, there would be no danger of their surpas- -ted than 
sms: us as tar as they do. tnsiand. 

Had the first exemptions been truly observed, accord- 
ing to their intention, and had they not been carried out 
with particular views, certainly the friends of New Xeth- 
erland would have exerted themselves more to take 
people there and make settlements. The other con- 
ditions which were introduced have always discouraged 
individuals and kept them down, so that those who were 
acquainted with the business dare not attempt it. It is 
very true that the Company have brought over some 
persons, but they have not continued to do so, and it 
therefore has done little good. It was not begun pro|>- 
erly ; for it was merely accidental, and was not in- 
tended. 

It is impossible for us to state pertinently wherein and 
how olten the Company have acted injuriously to this 
country. They have not approved of our own country- 
men settling the land, as is shown in the case of Jacob ^refn^" 
W alin^en and his people at the Fresh river, and quite '°p*/J?'}."'** 

1-1 1 -- 1 • 1 •! 1 ^°^ \\alin?- 

recently m the cases at the !>outh river : — while at the en to seiuc 
same time foreigners were permitted to go there without hver.* 
opposition or protest. It is known they are censurable 
in other respects, the garrisons are not kept complete 
conformably to the exemptions, and thus the cause of The fault of 
New Xetherland's bad condition, lurks as well in Neth- dulonof""'' 
erland as here. Yea, the seeds of war, according to the ^ru'nd rie]^ 
declaration of Director Kieft, were lirst sown by the "HhiheBe- 
Fatherland ; for he said he had express orders to exact " 
the contribution from the Indians ; which would have 
been very well if the land had been peopled, but as it 
was, it was premature. 



40 REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

Losriiiiiiiiie Trade, Avithont which, when it is lejjitimate, no coun- 
dmv M hy'lhe ^'T ^^^ prosjHTous, is by their acts so deca3'ed, that the 
coiiipiuiy. Jilie is nowhere else. It is more suited for ski^•es ihan 
freemen, in consecjuence of the restrictions upon it and 
the annoyances which accom])any the exercise of the 
right of inspection. We approve of inspection, how- 
ever, so I'ar as rehttes to contraband. 
his ri<:i,t to This contraband trad(! has ruined the country. 
c'Mm'!ii'!'iui fhougli it is now excluded from every part of it by orders 
u:.,u-. lor it oiveii l)v the ]Manae,ers to their officers. These orders 
coiiiiiry. sJiould be executed without partiality, which is not 
always the case. The Recognition* runs high, and of 
inspection and confiscation there is no lack ; hence true 
trade is entirely diverted, except a little, which exists 
pro forma, as a cloak to carry on smuggling. In the 
The Chris- 111^^11 time the Christians are treated almost like Indians, 

li.uis :.re ii^ the purchase of the necessaries with which they can- 
treated ill- ,. 1 rrr • 1 ■ 1- 

most like In- uot dispcuse. 1 liis causcs great complaint, distress and 
poverty : as, for example, the merchants sell those goods 
which are liable to little depreciation, at a hundred per 
cent, and more profit, when there is no particular demand 
or scarcity of them. And the traders who come with small 
cargoes, and others engaged in the business, buy them up 
from th(^ merchants and sell them again to the common 
man, who cannot do without them, oftentimes at a hun- 
dred |)er cent, advance, and higher or lower according as 
it suits them. ITpon liquors, which are liable to much 
leakage, they take more, and those who buy from them re- 
tail them in the same manner, as we have described in re- 
gard to dry wares, and generally at as much profit, so that 

r...r„i. rue the goods are in first, second and sometimes inthird hands, 

sold at one ?? J ' 

two and ' at one and two hundred per cent, and more advance. 

dreir.ne"'"' We are not able to think of all the practices which are 

cent, profit, coiitrived lor advancing individual gain. Little atten- 
tion is given to populating the land. The people, more- 
over, have been driven away by harsh and unreasonable 
proceedings, for which their Honors gave the orders ; 

Thp Bcpjnt- l(jy. the Managers wrote to Director Kieft to prosecute 

hehbcrs di- ^ . ^ ^ . . 

rect that whcii there was no onence, and to consider a partial 
should i,e*re- offeuce {fauU') an entire one, and so forth. It has also 
whole ''one '^ ^^ %een how the letters of the Eight men were treated, 
and thus ' and what followed thereupon ; besides there were many 
peSpie." ^ ruinous orders and instructions which are not known to 
us. But leaving this at present, with now and then a 

* A tax ill tilt- nature of an export duty. 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW N'ETHERLAXD. 41 

Word, as it is scaifcly worth relating, — let us proceed 
lu examine how their ollicers and Directors have con- ^.^^ pj^g^.. 
ducted themselves from time to time, haviner played "t" p'«y 
With the managers as well as with the people, as a cat masters and 
does with a mouse. It would be possible to relate their a"c''arwith''a 
management from the beginning, l)ut as most of us were "^o"se. 
not here then and therefore not eye witnesses, and as a 
long time has passed whereby it has partly escaped recol- 
lection, and as in our view it was not so bad then as 
afterwards when the land was made free and freemen 
began to increase, we will pass by the beginning and 
let Mr. Lubbert van Dincklaghen, Vice Director of New 
Netherland. describe the government of Director Wouter 
Van Twiller ol" which he is known to have inlbrmation, 
and will only speak of the last two miserable and im- 
poverished administrations. We would speak well of 
the government under Director Kieft, who is now^ no ^^^ smart of 
more, but the evil of it lives after him ; and of that un- ministranon 
der Director Stuyvesant which still stands, if indeed ue». '^'""'"" 
that may be called standing, which lies completely 
under foot. 

The Directors here, though far from their masters, under pre- 
were close by their i)rofit. They have always known J'„I.;'th,"pub' 
how to manage their own matters with little loss, and ''<^ I'nsiness, 

1 n ^ 1 !• 1 • rni i i the Directors 

under pretext oi the public business. 1 hey have also attend to 
conducted themselves just as if they were the sovereigns '^^"°"'°- 
ot the country. As they desired to have it, so always 
has it been ; and as they willed so was it done. 
" The Managers," they say, '• are masters in Fatherland, tors^ piay'^*^" 
but we are masters in this land." As they understand n^aster!"'"'* 
it so it is, there is no appeal. And it has not been 
diilicult ior them hitherto to maintain this doctrine in 
practice ; for the people were few and for the most part 
very simple and uninformed, and besides, had transac- 
tions with the Directors every day. As there were some 
intelligent men among them, ir/io could no upon their own 
feet, them it was sought to obli<2e. They could not un- 
derstand at lirst the arts of the Directors which were 
always subtle and dark, inasnmch as they were very 
frequently successful and for a long time quite advan- ^. 
tageous. Director Kieft said himself and let it be said Kiet^ iet it 
also by others, tiiat he was sovereign in this country, the gatedumt" " 
same as the Prince in Netherland. This was told him •«'.»»' ^"ve- 

reign in this 

several times here and he never made any particular country, and 

1 • .. ... r,.| , . ^ ,, V II rxercucdsu 

oti|cctu)u to it. J he retusing to allow appeals, and otliyr prcmepower 

6 



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42 REPRESENTATION Of^ NEW NETHERLANn. 

similar acts, prove cloai-ly that in regard to us it is just 
as tliey say and not otherwise. The ])resent Director 
does the same, and in the denial ot' appeal, he is at koine. 
He ass<>rts the maxim, " the Prince is above the law," 
and applies it so boldly to his own person that he is 
even ashamed of it himself. These directors having 
then ihe power in their own hands, can do and have 
• ",',„." I 'n ,',',",' done what they chose according to their good will and 
lau'.''" "" l>lea8nre ; and whatev(M- was, was right, because it w^as 
agreeable to them. It is well known that those who 
accept po\ATr, and use it to command what they will, 
Jrequently command and will more than they ought, 
whether it appear well or not. So too there are always 
some persons who applaud such conduct, some out of a 
desire to make mischief, others from fear; and yet still 
complain with .Tan Yergns de cinnenlia duris, of the 
clemrncy of the Duke. But in order that we give nobody 
cause fo suspect that we hloiv (/ni/ too hard, it will be 
The oiitu'n- ))i'0|ier to illustrate by examples the government of Mr. 
lr:Mi?m''i''"'' J-^i'"<'ctor Kieitat its close, and the administration of Mr. 
uiivd,)!- Director Stuyvesant just prior to tlie time of our depar- 
ir.,'1.,1 i,'y.'\ ture thence. We frankly admit, iiowever. that we will 
'""''''■-■ not be able to speak ol" them lully, because they were 
conducted so se<'retly and with such duplicity and cralt. 
We will nevertheless expose some of tlieir jiroceedings 
according to our ability, and thus let the lion be judged 
of from his paw. 
<;•"'; Casting onr t\yes upon the government of Director 

,iimli,'i,r'.|'! Kieft, the chiireh hrst meets us, and we will therefore 
''"^' speak of llie pul)lic ])roperty ecclesiastical and civil. 

But as this man is now dead, and some of his man- 
agement and doings are freely represented by one .To- 
eiiem T^ietersz Cuyter and Cornelis Melyn,* we will dis- 
pose of this point as biielly as we ))ossibly can. 
''!'.'■.":".'"!'' ij<'f«'re the time that Director Kieit brought the un- 
iiniiieii'i up- necessary war U])on the counti'v. In's principal aim and 
iry '1 1'y Ku'i'i' '^ndeavors wei'c I0 provide well lor himself and to leave 
a great name alter him, Init M'ithout any expense to 
himself or the Company. He never did any thing re- 
luarkahle for the country by which it was improved. 
Thus he c(insi(lei'<'d the erecfioii ol a church a very 
necessary public work, the more so, as it was in contem- 

* Cayter iiiid JMrlyn liad nrrniirnecl Kieft liefore Sttiyvcsaiit, ami upon his 
Jifci'iitlnl lind apiienled to the Stales General 111 Netherlaiid, whither they 
had been l)aiiislied on that account. 



REPilESENTATlON OF NEW NETIIERLAXU. 43 

))Iatlon to build one at that time at Rrn-elaer.s-AV'yck. Kieft was 
Willi this view he coinmuiiicati'd with tlic cliLirch war- "i";',rci[-\var'^ 
dens, — of which body he hiinsell was one, — and lliey wil- iiens ; and 
lingly agreed to and seconded the project. The place church t..' 
where it shoidtl stand was then debated. The Director 1',^^ 'r.'rt' III 
contended I hat it should be placed in the fort, and there *'''•« "'" 

1 ' the 111. 

it was erected in spite of the others, and. indeed, as suit- 
ably as (I fiflh wheel to a wagon; for I)esides that the 
fort is small and lies upon a point of land which must 
be very valuable in case o( an increase of ])(>pulation, 
the church ought to be owned by the congre-^ation at 
whose cost it was built. It also intercepts and turns T,,e ,„i,| j^ 
off the south wind from the grist-mill which stands ',;''.',',"^'='"'^ 
close by, for which reason there is frequently in sunmier thurcii. 
a want of bread from its inability to grind, though not 
from this cause alone. The mill is nc^glcctcd and, in 
consequence ol" remaining idle most of tlie time, has be- 
come considerably rotten so that it cannot now be made 
to go with more than two arms, and it has been so lor 
nearly five years. But to return to the church, — from 
which the grist-mill has somewhat diverted us, — the 
Director then resolved to build a church, and at the 
place where it suited him ; but he was in want of money 
and was at a loss how to obtain it. It happened about this 
time that the minister, Everadus Bogardus, gave his 
daughter in marriage ; and the occasion ot the wedding 
the Director considered a good opportunity lor his pur- 
pose. So after the fourth or fifth round of drinking, he 
set about the business, and he himself showing a liberal 
example let the wedding-guests subscribe what they o;e'''Jvr"(Ung 
were willing to give towai'ds the church. All then with ^,",''^,'^''j'^^''jj 
light heads subscribed largely, competing vvitli one an- willing to 
other ; and although some well repented it when they W^^ Xirch* 
got home, they were nevertheless compelled to paj-, — "^"'fny'!',^"^''* 
nothing could avail to prevent it. The church was then, them afier- 

■*. , , . p • , 1 1 • wards re- 

contrary to every consideration ol propriety, ))lacea in pent or it 
the fort. The honor and ownership of that work must ^'^^.^'^l'^"" 
be judged of from th(> inscription, which is in our o])inion 
ambiguous, thus reading: '• 1()42. Willem Kieit I)i- 

REUTEUR GeNERAEL, HEEKT HE GlIEMEENTE DESEN TeMPEL 

doen bouwen." (1G4'2. William Kieft Director General, 
has caused the co}i<(rei(ation to build this church). But 
whatever bi; intended l^y the inscription, the peojde nev- 
ertheless paid for the church. "^^ 

• See Nole D, post. 



44 REPRESENTATION OF NEW NEI'HERIiAND. 

There is no We must HOW speak of the property belonj2:ing- to the 
er't>%^''^'"'^ cliLireb, and, to do the truth no violence, we do not know- 
that there has ever been any, or that the church has any 
income except what is given to it. There has never 
been any exertion made eitlier by the Company or by 
the Director to obtain or provide any. 
contribu- "^^^^ hotcl kas been s-oiii'j; round a long time for the pur- 

tions are pose of crccting a common school and it has been built 

made tor the ' .,, 7 i T ^ ^1 ,^ . . • - 1 • 1 o 

school. Vi'ith Avords, but as yet tlie hrst stone is not laid. .Some 
mate)"ials only are provided. The money nevertheless, 
given for the ]Hirpose has all found its way out and is 
mostly spent ; so that it falls short and no permanent 
benefit has as yet been derived from it. 

For the poor aaIio are, however, otherwise well pro- 
vided for, nothing is done except the alms collected 
The poor- amoug the people, and some fines and donations of the 
[y"''in""the inhabitantSo A considerable portion of this money is in 
hands of the f^e posscssiou of the Compaiiv. who liavc been s|)ending 
ifr^, imtnei- it irom tiiiic to time, and have promised, tor a year and 
parnor"\"- upwards, to pay interest. Little attention however is 
terestranbe o-iyen to tliis promisc. SO that neither ])rincipal nor in- 

ohtained ~ ' ■ i ■ 

from them, tcrcst caii be obtained Irom tnem. 

Flying reports about asylums for orphans, for the sick 

and aged, and the like have occasion;illy been heard, 

but as yet no attempt, order or direction has been made 

in relation to them. From all these facts, then, it sufli- 

scarceiyany cicutlv appears that scarcely any proper care or diligence 

eii'^'for'''''" ^^^^ been used by the Company or its ofiicers lor any 

church prop- ecclcsiastical j)roperty whatever, — at least, nothing as far 

^'^ ^' as is known, — from the beginning to this time ; but, on the 

contrary, great industry and exertion have been used to 

attach and bind closely to th*mi their minions, as we 

shall hereafter at the ])roper time relate. And now let 

us proceed to the consideration of what public measures 

of a civil character had been adopted up to the time of 

our departure, in order to make manifest the diligence 

and care of the Directoi's in this particular. 

The Recoc- Tlicrc v.'as iiot at fii'st, uudcr thc govcrimioit ofDirec- 

niiion on ° {-.or Kicft. .SO mucli oiiportunity as there has since been ; — 

peltries paid , ' , \ \ „ ,* , . , • 1 • 

in N.N. because the recognition or the peltries was then paid in 
the Fatherland, and the freemen gave nothing for ex- 
cise ; but after that public calamit}'', the rash war, was 
brought upon us, tlie recognition of the jjeltries began to 
be collected in this country, and a beer-excise was 
sought to be established, about which a conference was 



REI'RESENTATION OF NEW NETIIERLAND. 46 

had with the Eight men,* who were then chosen from 
the people. As they did not understand it, they desired 
to know under what regulations and upon what footing 
it would take place, and how long it would continue. 
Director Kieit promised that it should not continue 
longer than until a ship of the Company should arrive 
with a new Director, or until the war sliould he at an 
end. Although it was very much distrusted by all and The beer ex- 
was not consented to, yet he introduced it by force. The ce^i? by force' 
brewers who would not agree to it had their beer given 
a prize to the soldiers. It has been continued in force 
ever since and has caused great strife and discontent. ™, „. , 

1 • . 1 I T-\- 1-1 The Director 

rroni this tune forward the Du-ector began to divide i-esins to 
the people and to set up party. Those who were on his peopiL.^and 
side could do nothing amiss, however bad it might be ; — ous^^Tr '''his 
those who were opposed to him were always wrong in panizans 
whatever they did well, and the order to reckon half an 
offence a whole one was then enforced. The jealousy 
of the Director was so great that he could not bear 
Avithout suspicion, that impartial persons should visit 
his partisans. 

After the war was, as the Director himself said, finish- 
ed, — though in our opinion it will never be finished until ^'''^ "'^r 

'~ iiovcr will 

the country is populated, — every one hoped that this im- be ended un- 
post would be removed, but Director Kieft put off the Inore'^people 
removal until the arrival of a new Director, who was i" "'^ '^°^'^' 

try. 

delayed for some time thereafter. When finally he did 
appear, it was like the crowning of RehoI)oam, for, in- 
stead of abolishing the beer-excise, his first business was g,uy^., 
to impose a wine-excise and other intolerable burdens ; '">poses 
so that some of the commonalty as they had no remedy, The com- 
were constrained to remonstrate against the same. In- "uonaBainsi 
stead however of obtaining the relief Avhich they ex- "• 
pected, they received abuse from the Director. Subse- 
quently a written answer was given them that a Director 
like him usually had such large and ample powers that 
poor common people as are here, made mistakes in rela- 
tion to them, and should submit to them without relief 
Further attem})ts have accordingly been made from time 
to time to introduce new taxes and duties. In line it 
was so managed in Director Kieft's time, that a large Kieft cniicc- 
yearly sum was received from the recognition and other »e'"f«'n 'he 

* The Eight men and the Twelve men were chosen during the Indian 
difficulties, the latter in 1641, and the former in ](i43,to advise with the 
Director, like the Nine men subsequently. 



esant 
the 
xcise. 



4G REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLANU. 

people ]6,- sources, calculated to amount anually to 16,000 guilders,* 
yeariyl'''''"^^ besidcs the recognition whicli was ])aid in tlu^ Father- 
land and which was paid in eliect here l)y the j)ooi' 
commonalty ; for the goods were thereby run up exor- 
stiiyvo^ant bitautly high and sold to them. In Director 8tuy vesant's? 
'''"7'"*,. ,, administration the revenue has reached a mu'-ii higher 
-.mm. sum, and it is estimated that about 30,000 guddiT.sf ai-e 
now derived yearly from the people by recognitions, 
condscations, excise and other taxes. Though it is not 
riglit that the more one has the more he should liitve. 
yet this was submitted to in order to give ms mnrli as 
possible, when if was designed ior the juiblie weal. 
And whereas in all the i)i'oclaniations it was promised, 

III lllP ])l:i- J I , ' 

cir.is it was and declared that the money should be employed Ibr 
airil'provuieii laudablc and necessary public works, let us now look Ibr 
monies^ roi- ^ mooKmt aud SCO what laudable public Avorks there 
lectprt rr.iiii are in this country, and what fruits all the (halations 
shoiii'i" he and contributions have hitherto borne. But not to ei-r 
tii'^r buTietit. hei-ein is it not necessary tliat we should know what 
goods and elfects belong to tin? Honorabl.; Company 
as its own ? Ibr what belongs to it particularly is not 
The Com- public. The Company's elieets in this country may, 
oT'in N'"^ N perhaps, witli Ibrts, cannon, ammunition, ware-houses, 
» mits to dwelling-houses. work-slioj)s. horses, catlle, boats, and 

alioMt 60.- , ,1 I i J r <>i\ / i\,\ 

oooor 70,001) whatever clsf' there niav he. aniouuL to irom nO,(i()0 
fi*;;;Vn- to 70.000 guilders,^ and it "is very jjrobable that the debts 
.leiiteii more agaiust it are considerably iiioi-e. But, ])assing these by, 
let us turn our attention to the public j)i-oj)ei-ty, a)id Si'e 
where the money from time to time has Ijecn i\>ri\. Ac- 
cording to the proclamations during the admimsti-ation of 
Director Ivieit, if we rightly consider and examine them 
all, we cannot learn or tliscover that any thing, — v»'e say 
done'to'rTiIe o HI/ fJi i ni^- liU'gQ OY suiall, — worth ndatiug. was done, built 
l^'opie under q,. made, which concerned or belonged to the conimon- 
alty. the church excepted, whereof we hav(^ hereto ore 
spoken. Yea, it has gone on so badly and negligently 
that nothing has ever been designed, und(;rstood or done 
that gave appearance of content to the peo])le, (>ven ex- 
ternally, but on the contrary, what came from the com- 
peopiev^^nrt uionalty has even been mixed up with the eJleets of the 
the compa- Companv, and even the comi)any"s property and means 

ny s proper- * , i i ^ i • i ^ 1 

ty neglected, havc bccu cveiy whcrc negiecteti, m order to maivc 

* !iii(i,4nn. 

t .f 12,000. 

t From $24,000 to S^B.OOO. 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETIIERLAND. 47 

friciicls, to secure witnesses and to avoid accusers about 
the managemeiit of the war. The nejjroes, also, who 
came from Tamaiidare* were sold for pork and peas, 
from the |)roce(Hls of which something wonderful was to 
be j)erfoi'ined. but they just diij)p<'(l throuirli the fingers. 
There are, also, various other negroes in this country, 
some of whom have been made free for their long ser- 
vice, but their children have remained slaves, though it is 
contrary to the laws of every people that any one born 
of a Christian mother should be a slave and be compelled 
to remain in servitude. Jt is impossible to relate every 
thing that has happened. ^\ hoever did not give his 
assent and approval was watched and, when it was con- 
venient, was summoned. We submit to all intidligent 
persons to consider what fruit this has borne, and Mhat 
a way this was to obtain good testimony. Men are by 
nature covetous, especially those who are needy, and of 
this we will hereafter adduce some few proois. when we 
come to speak of Director Kieft's government particular- 
ly. But to proceed now to the administration of Direc- i'/f"'<'p'Ho 
torfetuyvesant,and tosee how aiiairshave been conducted ment of i)i- 
up to the time of our departure. JNlr. Stuyvesant has veViriu.^'"^ 
most all the time from his first arrival up to our leaving, fs\m< ■ wuh- 
been busy building, laying masonr}-, making, breaking, ""i "'"v ad- 
lepairing and the like, but generally in matters of tV"!,'ffi?irsof 
the Company and with little profit to it ; for upon some [,''.'; '^'"■"p^' 
things more was spent than they were worth ; and 
though, at the first, he put in order the church which nosides the 
came into his hands very much out of repair, and shortly wi'm!r" .-.nd 
afterwards made a wooden wharf, both of which are "'•■^.'•'"''■'^h 

, , , . ,. , . . nothing done 

very serviceable and convenient, yel alter this time M'e f"r the peo- 
do not know that any thing has been done or made that ^^^' 
is entitled to the name of a public "work, though there 
has b(H'n income enough as is to be seen in the statement 
of the yearly revenue. Nothing more was a Iterwards at- 
tempted, as is the case with dropsical people. Thus in a 
short time very great discontent has ?;prung up on all 
sides, not only among the burghers, who had litie to say, 
but also among the Company's officers themselves, so that 
various protests were made by them on account of the 
expense and waste consc(|uent upon unnecessary coun- 
cillors, officers, servants and the like who are not known 

• The name of a bay on the coast of Brazil, where the Diitcli Ailiniral, 
Lichthart, oblained a signal triumph over the Portuguese in a naval en- 
gagement on tlie 9th of September, 1645. 



48 REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLANDS 

by the Mayors, and also on account of the monies and 
means which were given in common, beinji privately 
a})pro])riated and used. But it was all in vain, there 
was very little or no amendment ; and the greater the 
endeavors to help, restore and raise up every thing, the 
worse has it been ; for pride has ruled when justice die- 

stuyvesant tatcd Otherwise, just as if it were disgi-aceful to follow 

\viirnnt '"" advice, and as if every thing should come from one head. 

heed i.dvict-. 'j^j^p I'raits of this conduct can speak and bear testimony 
of themselves. It has been so now so long, that every 
day serves the more to condemn il . I'reviously to the 23d 
of Jul}^ 1049, nothing had b(-cn done concerning weights 
and measures or the like ; but at that time they notified 
the people that in August then next ensuing, an order 
would be made stating when the Fiscal would do some- 
thing about it, which was as much as to say, lohen he 
voiild give the pigeons drink. There is frequently much 
discontent and discord among tlie people on account of 
weights and measures, and if they be not regulated 
notliing can be right. It is also Ix^lieved that some of 
large consciences have two sets of them, but we cannot 
affirm the fact. As to the corn measure, the Company 

,„, , itself has alwavs been suspected, Init who dare lisi) it ? 

1 here is no .' 111 1 

regulation Tlic payment in Zeewant, which is the currency here, 
iheZeewant has iicvcr bceii placcd upon a good fooling, although 
is'asked'ior! ^^^*^' 00111111011 ally requested it, and showed how it should 
be regulated, assigning numerous reasons therefor. But 
it always produced strife and discontent, and if any thing 
were said before the Director of these matters moi'c than. 
])leased him. very wicked and siiiteful words wei'c re- 
turned. Tliose moreover who made it their business to 
riii'iruie'"' s])c;!k to liiui of such things were, if lie xw-vv. in no good 
im'r'iuiiong ht. very Jreely berated as clowns ;tiid bear-skinners, 
the people, 'j'li,. [qyx Kiidcf which we shelter ourselves, and from 

clowns and . 111 1 1 • 1 -i 1 

i)car.skin- \\hieh MS it seeius all aulliofily ))J'oceeds, lies UKe a mole- 
The' fort is heap or a toilering wall, on w hieh there is not one gun 
left like a canuao'e or one piece oJ cannon in a suitable frame 
and all the or Oil a goofi ])latlorni. t rom the nrst it has been de- 
out"oTorder'! clarcd that it should be rejiaired. laid in five angles, and 
put in royal condition. Tlie commonalty's men have 
been addressed lor money for the purpose, but they ex- 
cused themselves on the ground tliat the people were 
poor. Every one was discontented and feared that if 
the Director once had the fort to rely upon, he would be 
more cruel and severe. It is left sticking between them. 



REPRESENTATION OF NF,\V NETHERLAXD. 49 

He will doubtless know how to lay the l)l;ime upon the 

commonalty who an; innocent, with much circumstance, 

although the Director wished to have the money from 

them, and for that pui-pose pretended to have an order 

from Their Hisih j\Ji<;htinesses. Had the Director laid 

out the iburth part ol the money which was collected c"iiecu!.T"'^ 

from the commonalty during his time, lor that purpose, Ij^','" ,'.''' „^s 

it certainly would not have tViilen short, as the wine ex- "'"■ exiienu 

cise was expressly laid for that object. But it was r„ri." 

sought in a thousand ways to shear the sheep thmii^h the 

wool was not yet fcrovn. In regard, then, to public works, 

there is little dill'erence between Director Kieft and 

Director tStuyvesant, for, after the church was built, the 

former was negligent, and mad(; it a personal matter 

against those who loohed hi/n in the eye. The latter has 

had much more opportunity to assist the commonalty 

than his predecessor had, for he has had no war on his J^'" 'J'"^'=- 

I 7 tors prusc- 

hands. lie is also unlike his predecessor in having been cme per^on- 
morr diligent and bitter in looking up causes of prosecu- yt,nves;nit 
tion against his innocent opponent-^. than Kieft. 



THE ADMINISTRATION OF DIRECTOR KIIIFT IN PAR- 
TICULAR. 

SuFFieiEXT has been said of what Director Kirit did 
in regard to the church and its afiairs, and in regard 
to the State, such as buildings and taxes or revenue. 
It remains for us to proceed to the Council-house and 
produce thence some examples, as we promised. We 
will, in doing so, endeavor to be brief. 

The Council then consisted of Director Kieft and 
Monsieur la INIontagne. The Director had two votes, 
and Monsieur la Montague one ; and it was a high 
crime to appeal from their judgments. Cornelis Van- 
dcr Iloykens sat v.-ith them as Fiscal,* and Cornelis van 
Tienhoven as Secretary, and whenever any thinir extra- 
ordinary occurred, the Director allowed some, w hom it 
pleased him, — officers of the company for the most pari, — 
to be summoned in addition, but that seldom happened. 
Nevertheless it gave discontent. The Twelve men, and 

* Prosecuting Attorney. His name is usually spelt V'an der Huvghens. 

7 



(Ill 

the vul^iir lo 



l:iV 


, llu 




hl,H 


III' <> 


rilic 


Ill.M 

ii|)<i 
rcrl 


id 

a Ih' 
..1-, li 


sh.al 
1- 1)1- 

1- 011- 


(Ira 
shii 


Ml|■^ 




W.ll 


•IV )i 


11 his 



5') KEPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

vr' ■rid'''' alterwards the Eight, had in lawful matters neil her vote 
Ei'jht Men nor advice ; but were chosen in view ol the war and 

have Utile to ,1 . 1 1 1 * 

s;iy. some other occurrences, to serve as cloaUs and cats- 

paws. Otherwise they were of no consideration ; and 
Avere little res])ecfed if they opposed at all the views of 
Hire.- the Director, who himself imagined, and indeed wished 
to make others believe, that he was sovereign, and 

iieiKvi. that ^j^.^i^ [^ ^y,.,^ absolutely in his ])ower to do and permit any 

til('\' ilVO SOV- » I 1 *^ 

erei^ii. thing. He little regarded the satety of the people 

as the supreme law, as clearly appeared in the war, 
althougli when the spit wf/s turned in the ashes, it was 
sought by cunning and numei'ous certificates and ])eti- 
tious to shift tlie blame U])on others. But that happen- 
ed so because the war was carried too far. Every one 
laid the damage and the blood which was shed to his ac- 
couiil-. La Montague said that he had protested against 
it, and was concerned in it at first against his will and 
to his great regret, and that afterwards, when according 
lo his judgment it was best to do so, he had pretended lo 
assist. Tlic .Secretai'y, Con.dius Van Tienlioven, also 
'''"^ said that, he had no hand in the matter, anti nothing had 

been doiu^ by him in regard to it excej)t by the ex- 
jiress ordeis of ihe Director. But this was not believed, 
Th.i Ncireia lor there are those M'ho have heard La Montague say 
p. '"'''" ;' that if the Secretary had not brouglit a i'alse repoi't the 
a ifair would never have liaj)|)ened.* There are others 
iilso will) know this, and every one believes it to be so ; 
and indeed it has plausibility. Fiscal \'an derHoykens 
was not trusted on account of his drinking, \\'herein all 
his science consists. He had also no exjierience here, 
and in the beginning frequently denounced the Mar 
as being against his will. So that the blame rests, and 
must rest only upon the Director and Secretary 'lienho- 
ven. The Director was entrusted with the highest au- 
thority, and it any body advised him to the land's ruin, 
he was not bound to follow the advice. He alterwards 
endeavored to shift the burden from his own neck 
riK- peti- u|)on the people, who however excuse themselves al- 
en 11 rely" 'in thougli iu our judgment the}^ are not all entirely inno- 
nocent. cent. The cause of this war we conceive to have been 
the exacting of the contribution, (lor which the Director 
said he had the order of the Mayors.) and his own un- 

* He Iiatl been sent to Pavonia (Hoboken) to reconnoitre the position 
ot the 1: dians. 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETflERLAND. .) 1 

s:overnab]e passions, which showed themselves princi- 
pally in i)rivate. But there aro friends whom this 
business intimately concerns, and as they have already 
undertaken it, we will leave the matter with them and 
proceed to adduce one or two proofs disclosing the ^^'ly'"^^' 
aspiration after sovereignty. Passing by many cases foi- 
the sake of brevity, we have that of one Francis Dough- 
ty, an English Minister, and of Arnoldus Van Herden- 
berch, a free merchant. But as these cases appear in 
the matters to come before Their High Mightinesses in 
full conclave, we will merely give a summary of them. 
This minister, Francis Doughty, during the lirsttroubles 
in England, in order to escape them, came to New ^^^^ Fj-ancis 
England. But he found that he had got from the pan 
into the fire. Wherefore in order that he might, in con- 
formity with the Dutch retbrmation, have fi-eedom of 
conscience, which, contrary to his expectation he missed 
in New England, he betook himself to the protection of 
the Dutch. An absolute ground-brief* with manorial 
privileges was granted to him by the Director. He had 
increased his settlement in the course of one year by the 
addition of several families, but the war coming on, fie is driven 
they were driven from their lands with the loss of some [ands!*'* 
men and many cattle, besides most all their houses and 
what other property they had. They afterwards returned 
and remained a while, but consumingmorethan they were 
able to raise,they came to Manathans where all the inhab- 
itants at that time had fled, and there Master Doughty 
officiated as a minister. After the flame of war was out at the'Man- 
and the peace was concluded, — but in such a manner that •■*'*""'^- 
no one much relied upon it, — some of the people again 
returned to their lands. The Director would have been 
glad, in order that all things should be completely res- 
tored, if this man had done the same and had gone back 
upon his land ; — but inasmuch as the peace was doubt- 

* Conveyance. Mespat or Maspeth, which was thus conveyed, is in the 
town of Newtown in Queens county. Doughty was one of the first pur- 
chasers of Taunton, Mass., in l(i37. (Baylies New Plymouth, i. 288). 
He was driven from New En<;land hecause he held that " children who 
were of baptised parents, — and so Abraham's children, — ou^ht to he baptised"' 
(Lechford's " Plaine r>alini;" 40-41.) In Sept. IGCG, his son brou'^ht a 
suit to recover his unpaid salary asn inister at Flushing. An order ol the 
town court was produced, dated •'a. 2, 1647, to assess the inhabitants of 
the town for the salary. It was giv^ri in evidence that the tosvn had been 
compelled by Stuyvesant to sign the article.s for the minister, he taking 
them one alter another in a room and threatening them if they did not. 
The court ordered a part of the money to ho paid. 



5'i REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

ful, and h(^ had not wherewith to begin, Master Doughty 
was in no haste. He went however, sometime alter- 
wards and dwelt there hali a year, but again left it, 
^uvnirli '^"\n As peace was made, and in hope that some others would 
nr''''-""i'''"'„ niake a village there, a suit was brought against the 
p.-n'pif.,i. "" minister, and carried on so i'ar, that his land was confis- 
)V'r iris'n'nt catpd. Mastcr Doughty, feeling himself aggrieved, ap- 
''■"'"'■■"'''■ pealed from the sentence. The Director answered, his 
sentence could not be appealed from, but must avail ab- 
solutely ; and caused the minister lor that remark to be 
imprisoned twenty-ibur hours and then to pay 25 guil- 
ders. We have always considered this an act of tyran- 
ny and regarded it as a token of sovereignty. The 
matter of Arnoldus van Herdenbereh wars very like it in 
its termination. After Zeger Theunisz was murdered 
by the Indians in the Beregat* and the yacht had re- 
turned to (he Manathans, Arnoldus Van Hardenbergh 
was Vviih two others appointed i)y the Director and 
Council, curators over the estate, and the }'acht was 
searched. iJome goods were lound in it which were not 
inventoried, whereupon the Fiscal went to law with the 
curators, and claimed that the goods were confiscable 
to the Company. The curators resisted and gave Her- 
denljerch charge of the matter. After some proceed- 
ings the goods were condemned. As he found himself 
now acting in behalf of the common owners, he appealed 
to such judges as they sliould choose lor the purpose. 
The same game was then played over again. It was a 
hi^h crime. The Fiscal made great pretensions and a 
senttmce was passed, whereoi" the contents read thus : 
"Having seen the written complaint of the Fiscal Van- 
der Hoykens against Arnoldus Van Hardenberch in re- 
lation to appealing from our sentence dated the 28th 
April last past, as appears by the signature of the before- 
named A. Van Hardenberch, from which sentence no 
appeal can be had. as is proven to him by the commis- 
sion of Their High Mightinesses the Lords JStates General 
and His Highness of Orange : Therefore the Director 
General and Council of New Netherland, regarding the 
Hprden daugcrous couscquences resulting to the supreme author- 
iiorfrh HP- ity oi'tliis land's magistracy, condemn the beibre named 
Imys^riine Amold \ ixw Herdeuberch, to pay ibrthwith a fine of 25 
.I'crs^ ^"'' guilders, or to be imprisoned until the penalty be paid. 

* Shrp\v5!)uiy Tnlet. 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 



53 



An example to others." Now, if one know the lion from 
his paw, he can see that these people do not regard the 
name of Their High Mightinesses, His Highness of 
Orange, the honor of the Magistrates, the words, ' dan- 
gerous consequences,' ' an example to others,' and the 
like, — having used them to play their own parts there- ™V''"simi- 
with. We have therefore placed this act by the side of unothut 
that which was committed against the hiinister Doughty. Uo'iieiiiy. 
Many more similar cases would be found in the minute 
book, if what was unjustly done were always inserted 
in it, which is very doubtful, the contrary sometimes 
being observed. It appears sufficiently, that pretty much 
every thing has been badly managed. And with this 
we will leave the subject and pass on to the government 
ol Director Stuyvesant, with a single word lirst, how- 
ever, touching the proviso incorporated in the ground- ^llnMlc"^'' 
briefs, as the consequences may thence be very well gr'»in''-i»'>ef- 
understood. Absolute grants were made to the people 
by the ground-briefs, who thought that every thing 
was right, and that they were masters of their own pos- 
sessions. The ground-brieis were then demanded from 
them again upon pretence that there was something for- 
gotten in them ; but it amounted to nothing except that 
they thought they had incommoded themselves in giving 
them, and therefore a proviso was added to the ground- 
brief below, and it was signed anew ; which proviso 
directly conflicts with the ground-brief, as there is now 

in one and the same ground-brief a contradiction with- ^ coniradic- 

11 1- • 1 1 • 1 1 1 """ '" '"® 

out semblance of agreement, tor it reads thus in the old ground brief. 

brief; — "and take in possession the land and the valleys 

aj)pertaining thereto," and the proviso says, " no valley 

to be used before the company," all which could well 

enough be used, and the company have a competency. In 

the ground-briefs is contained also another provision, which 

is usually inserted and sticks in the hosmn of every one; 

to wit, that they must submit themselves to all taxes 

which the council has made or shall make.* These 

impositions can be continued in infinitum, and have 

* The following clause, taken from a ground-brief or patent i?sued in 
1639, is the one here alluded to. Afier describing the land conveyed, it is 
declared to be " upon the express condition and stipulation ihat the said A. 
B. and his assigns shall acknowledge the Noble Lords Managers aforesaid 
as their masters and patroons under the sovereignty of the High and iMighty 
Lord Slates' General, and shall be obedient to the Director and Council here, 
as all good citizens are bound to be, submitting themselves to all such taxes 
and imposts as have been or may be, hereafter, imposed by the Noble Lords. 



54 EEPRKSENTATION OF NEW NETFIERLAND. 

already hern enforcod asainst several inhabitants. 
Others also arn discouraa-ed troni undertaking anything 
on such terms. 



THE ADMINISTRATION OF DIRECTOR STU YVES ANT IN 
PARTICULAR. 



Sttiyvp^:int's 
•niMiPiit 



We wish much we were already through with this 
injiiro^ the administration, for it has injured us, and we perceive 
our ability WPiik ; — nevertheless we will begin, and as 
^ve have already spoken of the public property, ecclesi- 
astic;! 1 and civil, we will consider how it is in regard to 
the tidministration of justice, and speak impartially be- 
tween man a.nd man. And Hrst, to point as with a 
finger, at the manners of the Director and Council. As 
regards the Director, irom his first arrival to this time, 
his manner in court has been to treat with violence, dis- 
Hepiaysthe putc with or advaiice one of the two parties, not as be- 
advocitprind comes a iudu'e. but as a bounden advocate, which has 

tint the 111(120 . - , . 1 ' • I 

in court. givcu great discontent to every one, and wiln some it 
has gone so far and has e.Tected so much, that many of 
them dare bring no matter before the Court, if they do 
not stand well or tolerably so with the Director. For 
whoever has him opposed, has as much as the sun and 
moon against him. Having himself appointed many of 
the Councillors, and placed them under obligation to him, 
and some of them being ibr other reasons well disposed, 
he can with them overpower the rest by plurality of 
votes. He frequently juits his opinion in writing, and 
that so fully that it srikes on every side, and then he 
adds verbally, " Monsieui", this is my advice, if a,ny one 
Up will ni- b?"-^ aught to say aarainst it. let him speak." It then any 
'jo"ii'ion"uKi 'jody makes opposition, which is not easily done, though 
will heed no hc bc wcU grouudcd. His Honor bursts out immediately 
** '^"^''' in such a iury and makes such gestures, that it is 
frightful ; yea, he rails out frequently at the Councillors 
for this thing and the other, with ill words which 
would better suit the fish-market than the Council 
chamber ; — and if this be all endured. His Honor will 
not rest yet unless he have his will. To demonstrate 
this by examples and proof, tliough easily done, would 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETIIERLAND. 55 

nevertheless detain us too long ; but we all say and af- 
firm that this has been his common practice Irom the 
first and still daily continues. And this is the condition of 
things in the Conncil on the part of the Director, who 
is its head nnd President. Let us now brielly speak of 
the Councillors individually. The Vice Director, L^ib- 
hertvan l)inckl(im:n, has lor a long time on various occa- Dnickiiige is 
sions shown great dissatislaction about many diilcrent isfied. 
matters, and has protested against the Director and his 
appointed Councillors, but only lately, and after some 
others of the chief officers had done so. He was, before 
this, so influenced by fear, that he durst venture to say 
nothing against the Director, but let many things pass 
by and submitted to them. He declared afterwards 
that he had great objections to them, because they were 
not just, but he kept silent for the sake of peace ; as the 
Director had said in the Council, that he would treat 
him worse than Wouter Van Twiller had ever done, if 
he were not willing to conform to his wishes. This man 
then is over-ruled. Let us proceed to the others. Man- ^^ ^,^,^. 
sieur la Montas:ne had been in the Council in Kieft's tngne dares 

11 1 11 IT iH>t speak 

time, and was then very much suspected by many. He freely. 
had no commission from the Fatherland, was driven by 
the war from his farm, is also very much indebted to 
the Company, and therefore is compelled to dissemble. 
But it is sufficiently known from himself that he is not 
pleased, and is opposed to the administration. Brian prvnn New- 
Newton, lieutenant of the soldiers, is the next. This ton does not 

,.,,., T-^. ,' 11- 1 ■ iiiulprslaiid 

man is afraid ol the Director, and regards him as Ins our lannuace 
benefactor; and b(^sides, is very simple and inexperinced ^^^^ "'"'""'>' 
in law. As he does not understand our Dutch language, 
he is scarcely capable of replying to the long written 
opinions, except that he can and will say yes. Some- 
times the Commissary, Adrian Keyser is admitted into The com- 
the council, who came here as secretarv. This man ""ssi'ry Ad- 

1 r 111 1 "^ 1 7 y-1 i* '^"'" Keyser. 

has not forgotten mucli law, but says that he lets God s 

icater run over God's field. He cannot and dares not 

say any thing, for so much devolves upon him that it is 

best that he should be silent. The captains of the ships, 

when they are ashore, have a vote in the Council ; as ^M^'ki'l'and 

Jelmer Thomass'^n, and Paulus Lenaertson, who was their' vote in 

made Equipment master upon his fir.st arrival, and *''"""''''• 

who has always had a seat in the Council, and is a free 

man. What knowledge these people, who all their lives 

sail on the sea, and are brought up to ship-work, have of 



so REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLANU. 

law matters, and of the disputes of landsmen, any one 
can easily imagine. Besides, the Director keeps them 
so in debt that they dare not speak in opposition to him, 
as will appear from this ])assag-e at Curagoa, belbre the 
Director ever saw New Netherland. As tliey wen^ dis- 
coursing about the price of carracks, (c/-c//./.s*). the Di- 
siiiiMs.,,11 lector said to the minister and others, "Dominc Johan- 
nes.f 1 thought thai I had brought honest ship-masters 



r;iils at thnn 
aslhiev 



disix'j;;inl i i • . . . ^ 

and this wassaid of these councillors, and especially ol'the 
equipment-master, for Captain Jelmer was most all the 
time at sea. They have let it pass unnoticed, — a proof 
that they were indebted. But they liave not fared bad- 
ly ; for though Paulus Lenaertssen has small wages, he 
has built a better dwelling house here than any body 
else. How this hashaj^nened is mysterious to us : lor if 

11 causes >i i\- , i i i i ,'.i i ■ 

Mispicioii, the Du'ector lias knowledge ot tiiese matters, he is never- 

rIrtoi"i'nvni'< thclcss as qulct when Paul us Lenaertssen rises, as he is 

!■' ■'!'.''" s, I '"'^ inattentive to any body else, which causes suspicion in 

iMiici..' the minds of many. There remains to comj)lete this 

court-bench, the Secretary and the Fiscal, Hendrick van 

'e\cu\IJT^^ ^//e/.-, who had previously been an ensign-bearer. Di- 

ivoiii ihe rector Stuyvesant has kept liim twenty-nine months out 

i:i't",','i',',ntiiJ" of the meetings of the Council, for the reason among 

others which Ilis Honor assigned, that he cannot keep 

secret but make public, what is there resolved. He also 

irequently declared that he was a villain, a scoundrel, 

The Fiscal ■^ thief and the like. All this is well known to the Fis- 

wisest'"' *^^^'' ^^'^^^^ dares not against him take the right course, and 

in our judgment it is not advisable (or him to do so ; 

for the Director is utterly insulferable in word and deed. 

What shall we say of a man whose head is troubled, 

and has a, scre.ir loose, and who is powerful at liome ; 

especially, as it often hapjiens that it is hushed up, if 

there be anij sap in ihe icood to close it up. The Secretary, 

'ti!ryhf\s"^ ^ornelins Van TienhoveM, comes next. Of this man very 

been long in much could bc Said, and more than we are able, but we 

the cciinlry -hi i i i t i p i i f ^ 

ana is iniiy Will selcct hcrc and there a little lor the sake oi brevity. 

a door-step. j|g j^ cautious, subtlc, intelligent and sharp-witted, — 
good gifts when they are well used. He is one of those 
who have been longest in the country, and every cireum- 

* The meaninjj; of this word is uncertain. Crurkys is an old Scotch 
term signifying cannon. See Jamieson's Ely. Diet, of the Scotch language. 
Krnk or Krnak in the Dutch, answers to carrack, a galleon or large ship. 

t Rev. Johannes Backerus. 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETIIERLAND. 57 

Stance is well known to him, in regard both to the Chris- Jy'^J,*'"':'"' 
tians and the Indians. With the Indians, moreover, he "mnpihein- 
runs about the same as an Indian, with a little covering indi.ui. iio 
and a small patch in front, from lust alter the prostitutes ch'iav^e'iiut!^ 
to whom he has always been mijilitily inclined, and with 
whom he has had so much to do that no punishment c^" 
threats of the Director can drive him from them. II(! is 
extremely expert in dissimulation. He appears to all to 
be asleep, but it is in order to bite, and shows externally 
the most friendship towards those whom he most hates. 
He gives every one who has any business with him, — 
which scarcely no one can avoid, — good answers and 
promises of assistance, yet rarely helps any body ; but 
tvvisis continually and shutfles from one side to the other. 
Except to his friends, — the priests, — he is in his words and 
conduct loose, false, deceitful and given to lying, promis- 
ing every one, and when it comes to perform, 7iever at 
home. The origin of the war was ascribed principally to The cause of 
him, together with some of his friends. In consequence ,','|,!,)ni'ir'*'* 
of his false reports and lies the Director was led into it, siiouiders. 
as is believed and declared both by the honest Indians 
and Christians. Now, if the voice of the people, — accord- 
ing to the maxim, — be the voice of God, one can with ^'"'•''ne 

'^ . ' . 1 > 1 gi>0(l c:in be 

truth say scarcely any thing good of this man or omit said or him, 
anything bad. The whole country, save the Director i!aa can be'^ 
and his party, cries out against him bitterly, as a villain, 
murderer and traitor, who must leave the country or 
there will be no peace with the Indians. Director Stuy- 
vesant was, at first and afterwards, well admonished of 
this; but he has nevertheless kept him in office, and sub- 
mitted to him so much, that all things go according to 
his wishes, more than if he were President. Yea, he also 
says that he is well contented to have him in office, hut 
that stone does not yet rest.* We lirmly believe that he 
misleads him in many things, so that he docs many bad 
things, which he otherwise would not do ; in a word 
that he is one great cause of his ruin and the lands' dis- 
quiet. But it seems that the Director can or will see 
nothing of it ; for when it was represented to him by 
some persons he gave it no consideration. It has been 
contrived to disguise and manage matters so, that in the 
Fatherland, where the truth can be freely spoken, no- 

• By this figurative expression is probably meant that efforts would be 
made in the Fatherland to have Van Tienhoven removed. 

8 



58 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 



Nine men 
chosen to 
represent 
the whole 
people. 



body would be able to molest him. Nothing has been 
done there to get at the truth. Having established the 
powers of the Council, it is easy to understand that the 
law-people clung by each other, in order to maintain 
the imaginary sovereignty and to give color to that 
yretension. Nine men were chosen to represent the 
whole commonalty, and commissions and instructions 
were given that whatever these men should do, should 
be the act of the whole commonalty. And so in 
fact it was, as long as it corresponded with the wishes 
and views ot the Director. In such cases they repre- 
sented the whole commonalty ; but when it did not so 
correspond, they were then clow ns, usurers, rebels and 
the like. But to understand this properly it will be best 
briefly to state all things chronologically, as they have 
happened during his administration, and in what man- 
ner those who have sought the good of the counti-y have 
been treated with injustice. 

His first arrival — for what passed on the voyage is not 
for us to speak ol', — was like a peacock, with great state 
and pomp. The declaration of His Honor, that he wish- 
ed to st;iy here only three years, with other haughty 
expressions, caused some to think that he would not be 
a father. The appellation of Lo?-d General, and similar 
titles, were never before known here. Almost every day 
he caused proclamations of various import to be pub- 
cards issued, lished, which were for the most part never observed, 
and have long since been a dead letter, except the wine 
excise, as that yielded a protit. The proceedings of the 
u,ns ''.Mfi-mist ^^^'"^^' ineii, and those especially against Jochem I'ietersz 
jochem Pie Cuytcr aud Cornelis Melyn, happened in the beginning 
Meiyn very oi" his administration. The Director showed himself so 
cei.surubie. onc-sidcd in them, that he gave reason to many to judge 
of his character little to his advantage. Every one clear- 
ly saw that Director Kielt had more favor, aid and 
counsel in his suite, than his adversary, and that the one 
Director was the advocate of the other as the lan- 
guage of Director Stuyvesant imported and signified 
when he said, "These brutes may hereafter endeavor to 
knock me down also, but I will manage it so now, that 
they will have their bellies full for the future." How it 
was managed, the result of the lawsuit can bear wit- 
ness. They were compelled to pay fines, and were 
cruelly banished. In order that nothing should be want- 
ing, Cornelis Melyn was threatened if he asked for mer- 



Many pln- 



\tiiyvesant 
Miaves cm- 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 59 

cy, that it would after a while be seen how his matters 
would turn out in the fatherland, in language like this, 
as Melyn, wlio is still living, himself declares, *' If I 
knew, Afelyn, that you would divulge our sentence, or liKcai'pned 
bring it he"fon> Their High Mightinesses, I would cause Joltg "'^ ^"'' 
you to be hung immediaiely on the highest tree in New- 
Netherland." Now this took place in private, and may 
be denied, — and nothing ought to be taken as true but 
what is credible, — but this is so conbrmed by similar 
cases, that it cannot be doubted. At one time, after leav- 
ing the house of the minister, where the consistory had 
been sitting and had risen, it happened that Arnoldus 
Van Herdenbergh related the proceedings relative to the 
estate of Zeger Teunisz, and how he himsell", as curator, 
had appealed from the sentence ; wliereupon the Direc- 
tor, who had been sitting there with them as an elder, 
interrupted him and replied, " It mav during mv adminis- stnyvesant 

1 11 I i" > • i> III declares in 

tration be contemplated to appeal, but il anyone should the cmsisio- 
do it, I will make him a fool shorter, and send the pieces ',^,i,f^p,'i^,^ 
to Holland, and let him appeal in that wav." Oh cruel (le'nh u.ose 

111 1 r •" J o A J ^v'"' appeal 

words! what more could even a sovereign do / And iromhissen- 
yet this is all firmly established; for after Jochem '^"'"'' 
Pieterz Cuyter and Cornelis Melyn went to the Father- 
land to prosecute their appeal, and letters came back 
here from them, and the report was that ihey were up- 
held in the appeal, or would be so upheld, the Director 
declared openly, at various times, and on many occa- 
sions, as well before inhabitants as strangers, when 
speaking of Jochem Pietersz Cuyter and Cornelis Melyn, 
"If they come back and bring the order of the States, Herommms 
thev would be as thev were, unless their High Miirhti- the..rdpr--nf 

•: 1 • 1 T Ml • 1 •. 1 'he SlalfS 

nesses summon me, m which case 1 will immediately 
send them back." His Honor has also always denied 
that any appeal was or could be taken in this country, 
and declared that he was able to show this conclusively. 
And as some were not willing to believe it, especially in 
matters against the company or their oflicers, a great 
deal was quoted and extracted from different authorities, 
but not much to the purpose. At the first, while Direc- 
tor Kieft was still here, the English minister,* as he had 
been long badly treated and his land was confiscated, 
prayed that he might be permitted to return to the Is- 
landb,t or to Netherland ; but an unfavorable answer 

• Francis Doughty. t The West Indies. 



r»0 REPREi?ENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

was ahvaj^s given him, and he was threatened with 
this and that; finally it resulted in permission to return, 
leqirii'ei'i"."'' provided he gave a promise under his hand, that he 
pir>oH'"i'imt '^'^'<^'ul(^ 11^5^ i'l any place in which he should come, speak 
lie would lint or complain of what had b(>lallen him here in New 
iiad been Nethcrlaiid from Director Kiel't or »Stuyvesant. This 
"-•''' the man himself declares. Mr. Dincklagen and Com- 

mander Loper. who ihen had seats in the Council, also 
say that this is true. It is a marvel how the Directors can 
now justify to their own consciences what they wished 
to do with such certificates, and others like them, which 
were secretly obtained. The Honorable Director began 
also at the first to argue very stoutly against the contra- 
band ti-ade, as was indeed very laudable. The law was 
passed and remained in force, yet this trade, forbidden 
to others, he himself wished to carry on; but to this the 
])eople Mere not willing to consent. His Honor said, 
stiivvcsant and openly asserted, that he was allowed, on behalf of 

sells powder in 

Mild ie;i<i to the Company, to sell powder, lead and guns to the In- 
thp Indians. ^|j,^,^f^^ |jy|- j-,q ^^^^ ^jgp coy\\q\ (\q ,so, and that he wished to 

carry their resolution into execution. What the resolu- 
tion of the Company amounts to, is unknown to us.* but 
wh;it relates to the act is notorious to every inhabitant ; 
as the Director has by his servants openly carried on the 
trade with the Indians, and has taken guns from free 
men who had brought with them one or two for their 
own use and amusement, jiaying for them according to 
his own pleasure, and selling them to the Indians. But 
this way of proceeding could amount to nothing, and 
made little progress. It was necessary to do something 
ob'ET' more, and therefore a merchant, Gerrit Vastrick, receiv- 
caseofguns. ^^ ordcrs to bring with him one case of guns, which is 
known of, for the purpose, as it was said, ot sujjplying the 
Indians sparingly. They set about with this case of guns 
so openly, that there was not a man on the Manathans 
but knew it ; and it was work enough to quiet the people. 

* The Compnny had written to Stuyvesant on the 7ih of April, 1G48, as 
follows: — " It is our opinion that the JNatives wirhin our conquests should 
be governed with lenity — a conclusion fonned from our wais with them, 
which We. believe are the cause of their anxiety to provide themselves with 
powder and ball for use in hunting which we consider nothing but an art- 
ful pretext. Yet as they urge it with such earnestness, that they would 
rather renew the war with us than be without these articles, and as a war 
with them, in our present situation, would be very unwelcome, we think the 
best policy is to furnish them with powder and ball, but with a sparing hand." 
(.Aibnny "ecords, Vol. IV. p. 1, i.) 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 61 

Every body made bis own comment ; and, as it was ob- 
served that the ship was not inspected as others had 
been before, it was presumed tliat there were many 
more guns, besides powder and lead, in it for the Gov- 
ernor ; but as the lirst did not succeed, silence was there- 
fore observed in regard to the rest ; and it might havp 
passed unnoticed, had not every one perceived that it 
opened a great door for abuse. The Director so treat- 
ing all others, then gave permission to a captain and 
merchant, who were celebrated for this of old, and who 
were now said to have brought with them a great num- 
ber of guns, which was the more believed, because they 
went to the rii^ht place, and on their return (Retoere*) 
were dumb as to what they did. This begat so much 
discontent among the common people, and even among 
the other officers, that it is not to be expressed; and had 
the people not been persuaded to hold back, something 
extraordinary would have happened. It was further 
declared, that the Director is everything, and does the cturifsml^lui 
business of the whole country, having several shops '*.'"*'^ o*^ '"^' 

* • sincss. 

himself; that he is a brewer and has breweries, is a 
part owner of ships, a merchant and a trader, as well in 
lawful as contraband articles. But he does not mind order of the 
what is said ; he exhibits the orders of the Managers Beicint-hcb- 
that he might do so, and says, moreover, that he should p.wderand 
receive a supply of powder and lead by the Falconer ^""^' 
for the purpose. In a word, the same person who inter- 
dicts the trade to others upon pain of death, carries it on 
both secretly and openly, contrary to good morals. His 
example is not to be followed, and if others do follow it, — 
which indeed often happens secretly, — then away with 
them to the gallows. This we have seen in the case of Proceedings 
Jacob Reyntgen and Jacob Van Schermerhoren, who, jacoirReynt*- 
for this offence, were sentenced to die, and who were ^^ ^^^ ^^' 
with much difliculty relieved from the sentence, and then Schermerho 
they were banished as felons, and their goods confis- '^^°' 
cated. The banishment w^as, by the intervention of 
many good men, afterwards remitted, but their goods, 
n.any of which were free, (as they were trading mer- 
chants) remained confiscated. We cannot pass bv re- Tbe proceed- 
lating here what happened to one Joost Theunisz Bac- J',"" '? Joost 
ker, w^ho complained to us of being greatly maltreated, Backer 

• This is not a Dutch word. It may be the French, retour, in which 
sense we have used it. Its presence renders the sense doubtful, and perhaps 
the translation of the passage is incorrect. 



P2 REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

as he in fact was. For the man being a reputable 
burgher, of good life and moderate means, was put in 
prison upon the deckiration of an officer of the Compa- 
ny, who. according to the General and Council, had him- 
self thrice well deserved the gallows, and for whom a 
new one even had been made, from which, out oi" mercy, 
he escaped. He was persecuted in every way, and linal- 
ly, when nothing could ])e established against him hav- 
ing tlie semblance of crime, he was released again, alter 
thirteen days coniinement, upon satisfactory bail for his 
a})pearance, in case the Fiscal should find anything 
against him. N^othing has as yet been done about it 
though the year and a day have passed by. We have, 
as advocates for this commoner, and upon his request 
respectfully solicite I, as his bonds are heavy, that the 
suit should be tried, so that he might be punished accord- 
ing to his deserts if he were guilty, and if not. that he 
might be dischai'ged. But there was nothing gained by 
our interposition, as w^e w^ere answered with reproach- 
ful langunge, and the Fiscal was permitted to rattle out 
any thing that came in his mouth, and the man was 
rendered odious beyond all precedent, and abused be- 
fore all as a foul monster. Asked he anything, even if 
it were all right.he receivedabusive language ,his request 
was not complied with, and justice was denied him. 
These things |)roduced great dissatisfaction, and led some 
Procepdin?^ to meditate leaving the countrv. It happened better with 

rel:itive in -v^ i r • * i 

ppterVai.der one I'ieter \ ander Linden, as he was not imprisoned. 
There are many others, but the most of them are afraid, 
yet would speak if they durst. Now the Company it- 
self carries on the forbidden trade, and the people think 
that as it can do so without criminality there is no harm 
in their doing it; and this causes smuggling and frauds 
to an incredible extent, though not so great this year as 
heretofore. The publishing of a placard that those who 
were involved, whether civilly or criminally, in New 
c'anr,*of England, might have passport and protection here, has 

evil doers, ycry much embittered the minds of the English, and has 
been considered by evei-y one fraught with bad conse- 
quences. Great distrust has also been created among 

I!!ffirca^er' the inhabitants on account of Heer IStuyvesant being so 

very freely, ready to confiscatc. There scarcely comes a ship in or 
near here, which, if it do not belong to li'iends, is not re- 
garded as a prize by him. There will be gi-eat pretences 
(though little comes of them) made concerning these 



tion tor the 
|iro'e 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 03 

matters, about which \vc will not dispute ; but confis- 
cating has reached such a pitch in I\evv i\etherland,that 
nobody who has any visible property considers it to be 
at all safe. It were well it" the knowledire of this thing 
were confined to this country ; but he has spread it him- 
selfamong the neiiihboring Englisii — North and JSouth, — 
and in the West Indies and Caribbee Islands. Every- 
where there, such is the bad report, that not a ship dare 
come from those places ; and good credible people who 
come I'rom thence, by the way of Boston, and others of 
Boston trading here, assure us that more than twenty- 
five ships would come here from those islands every year 
if the owners were not fearful of confiscation. And this 
is the result onl}' in these places. The same report 
flies to all others, and produces like fear in them, so that Thereportof 
this vulture is destroying the prosperity of New Nether- ri"es*much 
land, diverting its trade, and making the people discon- '"j'^y and 

. diverts tradB'* 

tented. Other places not so well situated as this, have 
more shipping. All the substantial iidiabitants, the 
merchant, the burgher and peasant, the planter, the 
laboring man, and also the man in service, suffer great 
injury in consequence ; for if the shipping were abun- 
dant, every thing could be better sold, and necessaries ll^t?,!j„S^ 
be more easily obtained than they are now, w^hether they makes good 
be such as the people themselves, by God's blessing, get 
out of the earth, or those they otherwise procure, and 
be sold with more ])rofit ; and freedom in trade would 
be given to the ])eople. New England is a clear exam- 
ple that this policy succeeds well, and so especially is 
Virginia. All the debts and claims w^hich were left un- 
collected by Director Kielt, — due for the most part from 
poor and indigent people who had nothing, and whose 
property was destroyed by the Wcir, by which they were 
compelled to abandon their houses, lands, cattle and 
other means. — were now demanded ; and when the peo- 
ple declared, that they were not able to pay — that they 
had lost their {iroperty by the war, and desired My Lord 
to have patience, they were repulsed. A resolution was 
adopted and put in execution, requiring those who did The Director 
not satisfy the company's debts, to pay interest ; but the ,t"'h'ts"coa'** 
debts in question were made in and by the war, and the •r^^^'p') <'" 

, ^ . , .•'.,. rme ihe war, 

people are not able to ])ay eillicr principal or interest, imi refuses 
Again, the just debts which Director Kieft left behind, jusi'cUiimT 
due from the company, whether they consisted of month- cumpanv')® 
ly wages, or were for grain delivered, or were other- 



64 REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETIIERLAND. 

wise lawfully contracted, these the Director will not pay. 
If" we oppose this as an unusual course, it is admitted 
and he wishes to have it so. We have by petition 
and proper remonstrance eflected. however, so much, 
that the collection of the debts is put oif for a time. 

Besides this, the country of the Company is so taxetl, 
and is burdened and kept down in such a manner, that 
the inhabitants are not able to appear beside their neigh- 
bors of Virginia or New I'ingland, or to undertake any 
enterprise. It seems, — and thus much is known by us, — 
that all the inhabitants of New Netherland admit that 
the Managers have scarce any care or regard lor New 
Netherland, except when there is something to receive, 
for which reason, however, they receive less. The great 
extremity of war into which we have been thrown, 
clearly demonstrates that the Managers care not wheth- 
er New Netherland sink or swim ; for when in that 
emergency, aid and assistance were sought from them, — 
which they indeed were bound by honor, and by promises 
half unsolicited, to grant, pursuant to the exemptions, — 
they made no attempt to furnish them at their own ex- 
pense. We let the expense go ; they have never es- 
tablished any good order or regulation concerning it, 
although the plenitude of their High Mightinesses had 
decreed and commanded it. Neither have they ever 
allowed the true causes and reasons of the war to be in- 
vestigated, nor have they attempted to punish those who 
Noiitiiesus- had rashly begun it. Hence no little suspicion attaches 
fhemanage" to their ordcr concerning it ; at least it is certain that 
nieiu of ihe ^{^pjj. ofiiccrs wcrc choscu morc from favor and friend- 
ship than merit, which did not make their matters go on 
better. But this is the loss and damage for the most part 
of the stockholders. Many of the others doubtless knew 
well the object. In a word, they come far short in af- 
fording that protection which they owe the country, 
though the burdens are nothing lighter on that account. 
heavu>'%ax- They understand how to impose taxes, for while they 
ed and Ihe promised in the exemptions, not to go above five per 

burden falls ' , , .' t. • i • ^i a. ^i • 

upon the cent., they now take sixteen. It is obvious that there is 
ro.nmon ^ great dHlerence. — a half difference, but there is no re- 
lief. The evasions and objections which are used by 
them, as regards merchants goods, smuggling, and many 
other things, and which the times have taught them, in 
order to give color to their acts, are of no force or con- 
sideration. They, however, are not now to be refuted, 



man. 



RF.PRE.-SKNTATM.V of NEW^ NETHtRI.ASD. 



65 



as il would take too loiiii ; thou<^h we stand ready to do 
so, if there be any necessity lor it. These and innumer- 
able other dilKculties, which we have not time to ex- 
])ress, exist, tending to the damage, injury and ruin of 
the country. If the inhabitants, or we ourselves, go to 
the Director or other ofHcers of the Comjjany, and 
speak of the flourishing condition of our neighbors, and 
complain of oui- own d(>solate and ruinous state, we get riiu Director 
lor answer from hem, that they see and observe it, u,eTrM'ieb' 
but cannot remedy it, as they Jollow the Company's gj,'",'','"^'.''" 
orders, which they arc compelled to do, and that if we dress. 
have any thing to say, w'e must petition their masters, 
the Managers, or 'I'heir High Mightinesses, which, in 
truth, we have juducd to be necessary. It is now more 
than a year since the commonalty deemed it expedient, 
and proposed, to send a deputation to Their High Migh- 
tinesses. The Director commended the project, and not ^.^^ resoiu- 
only assented to it, but urged it stronglv. It was put well |'<>m »>< i" -^ 

, I n 1 , 111 J 1 /• . ilepulatioii 

in the mill, so that we had already spoken oi a person to M|.|ir..ve.i i.y 
go, when it lell through, lor these reasons: When it was '•!« ^'f^cior. 
j-roposed. the Director desired that it should be commu- 
nicated according to his wishes ; which some M'ho jier- 
ceived the object, would not consent to, and the matter 
therefore fell asleep. Besides, the English, who had 
been depended upon and who were associated in the 
affair, withdrew from time to time from us. This 
made the necessity of action the greater, and the Nine 
Men W'ere therefore changed the next year, w hen Heer 
Stuyvesant again urged the matter strongly, and declar- 
ed that he had already written to the Company that rs'oro^mimn 
such persons would come. After the election of the ''uiatullf '^^ 
Nine Men, and before the new incumbents w^ere sworn wmidgo. 
in, it was determined b}^ them and resolved verbally, 
that they would proceed with the deputation, whatever 
should be the consequences ; but it remained some time 
before the oath was renewed, on account of some am- 
plification of the commission being necessary, w hich was 
finally given and the protocol arranged and signed ; but 
we have never been able to obtain an authentic coj)y of 
it, although the Director has frequently promised, and 
we have frequently apf)lied for it. 

As the Company had now been waited upon a long n,inaiion'7o 
while in vain, promising amendment from time to time. I'f"'' n<iepu- 
but going on worse, a determined resolution was taken Thfir Hirh 
by the commons-men to send some person. They made es"" """"" 

9 



t>6 R[;hkesentation of new netiiEkland. 

The Coin- rbeir iniention known to the Director, and requested that 
not"ai'i'.we(i f^'^.v mj^ht confer with the commonalty ; but their 
wiih'the pi'oposition was not well received, and they obtained in 
people. reply to their written petition, a very long letter, to the 
eftect, that communication must be made through the 
Director, and his instructions Ibllowed, with many other 
things which did not agree with our object, and were 
impracticable, as we think, for various reasons \\ liich 
we have set down in writing. We thought it was not 
advisable to communicate through him, but we repre- 
sented to his Honor that should he let us go, we would 
not send any thing to the Fatherland, without his hav- 
ing a coj)y ot it. He could then answer for himself, 
as we would be glad he should ; but to follow his direc- 
tions in this matter was not, we thought, founded in 
reason, but was antagonistic to the weil'are of the coun- 
try. We had never promised or agreed to do so ; but 
were bound by an oath to seek the prosperity of the 
country, as, according to our best knowledge, we are 
always inclined to do. 
The leuer ..f bi tiic abovc mentioned letter it says, if we read riglit- 
the Director. ]y^ ^]-j,^|. ^y^ should inquire what approbation the Com- 
monalty were willing to give to this business, and how 
the expense should be defrayed ; but the Director explain- 
ed it difierently from what we understood it. Now as 
he was not willing to convene the j^eopie for our pur- 
pose, or that we should do it, we went round from house 
to house and spoke to the commonalty. The General 
The Director ^^^s, from that time, burned with rage, and, if we can 
js very vio- judse, has not been effectually appeased since, although 

lent because "^ '"'■,.-, , i i . i i /• ii t i • j' 

they do not wc did uot kuow what else to do, and tollowed his order 
directions! herein. Nevertheless it was contemplated that the 
Nine Men should not communicate with him or follow 
his directions in any thing pertaining to the matter. 
This excited in him a bitter and unconquerable hatred 
against them all, but principally against those whom 
he supposed to be the chief authors of it ; and although 
these persons had been good and dear friends with him 
always, and he, shortly before, had regarded them as the 
most honorable, respectable, intelligent and patriotic 
men of the country, yet, as soon as they did not follow 
the General's wishes, they were this and that, some of 
them rascals, liars, rebels, usurers and spendthrii'ts, in a 
word, hanging was almost too good lor them. It had 
been previously strongly urged that the deputation 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETFIERLAND. 67 

should be expedited, but [he said] there was then still 
six months time, and all that was proper and necessary- 
could be put upon a sheet of paper. Many reports also ^,^^.^^ ^ 
were spread among the people, and it was sous^ht prin- mt'.ms cm- 
cipally by means of the English to prevent the college ve'riThe'Voi- 
of the Nine Men from doing any thing; but as these Ifi^losc"' '*' 
intrigues were discovered, and it was therefore manifest 
that this could not be effected, so in order to make a 
diversion, many suits were brought against those who 
were considered the ringleaders. They were accused 
and then prosecuted by the Fiscal and other suborned 
officers, who made them out to be the greatest villains in 
the country, where shortly before they had been known 
as the best people and dearest children. At this time 
an opportunity presented itself, which the Director was 
as glad to have, as he himself said, as his own life. At 
the beginning of the year 1G49, clearly perceiving that 
we would not only have much to do about the deputa- 
tion but would hardly be able to accomplish it, we 
deemed it necessary to make regular memoranda for of 'he notes, 
the purpose of furnishing a journal from them at the 
proper time. This duty was committed to one Adriaen 
vander Donck, who by a resolution adopted at the same 
time, was lodged in a chamber at the house of one 
Michael Jansz. The General on a certain occasion The notes 
when Vander Donck was out of the chamber, seized this van^'rier^"' 
rough dralt with his own hands, put A^ander Donck "|'"'^'*''""° 
the day after in jail, called together the great Council, 
accused him of having committed crimen Icbscp. majesla- 
tis, and took up the matter so warmly, that there was 
scarcely any determining whether the deputation was to 
proceed, (and it was yet to be arranged,) or whether the 
journal, — as Mine Heer styled the rough draft from 
which the journal was to be prepared, — was of itself 
action enough ; for jMine Heer said there were great 
calumnies in it against Their High Mightinesses, and 
when we wished to explain it, and sought to correct the 
errors, (as the writer did not wish to insist upon it and 
said he knew well that there were mistakes in it, aris- 
ing from haste, and other similar causes, in consequence 
of liis having had much to do and not having read over 
again the most of it,) our request was called a libel ifonever 
which was worthy of no answer, and the writer of which nlU'suit' the 
it was intended to punish as an example to others. In Director. 
fine we could not make it right in any way. He forbid 



6S REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

Yander Donck the Council and also our meetings, and 
£jave us ibrmal notice to that effect, and yet would not 
release hitn irorn his oath. For the purpose of cutting 
off the convenient mode of proof, he issued a procla- 
plnh'i'i'i'irMi. mation declaring that no testimony or other act should 
be valid unless it were written by the Secretary ; which 
was of service to nobody, but. on the contrary, every one 
complained that nothing could be done. Director Kieft 
had done the same thing when he was apprehensive 
that an Atleslation would be executed against him. And 
so it is their practice generally to do every thing they 
can think of in order to uphold their conduct. Those 
whose oliiecs required them to concern themselves with 
the affairs of the country, and did so, did well, if they 
Those who went according to the General's will and pleasure; if 
comury'.''*''' ^^'"X ^^^'^ "^^ ^^^^Y wcre ))rosecuted and thown into pris- 
ueTtcd'"""^' on, guarded by soldiers so they could not speak with any 
body, aniirily abused before every one as monsters, 
threatened to be taught this and that, and every thing 
done against them that he could contrive or invent. 
We cannot enter into details, but refer to the record kept 
of these things, and the documents which the Director 
himself will furnish. Front the tbregoinir relation Their 
High Mightinesses, and other friends who may see it, 
Thfi truth in can wcll imagine what labor and burdens we have had 
New''iN,vth- upon our shoulders from which we would very willingly 
«rian.i long havc cscapcd, but for love of the country and of truth, 

concealed. i • i ',. , ■, , , . , . , nii 

which, as lar as we know, has long lam buried. Ihe 
trouble and difficulty which do or will affect us, al- 
though wanting no addition, do not grieve us so much 
as the sorrowtul condition of i\ew iN'efherland. now lying 
at its last gasp ; but we hope and trust that our afflic- 
tions and the sulferings of the inhabitants and peoj)le of 
the country will awaken in Their High Mightinesses a 
compassion which will be a cause of rejoicing to New 
jXetherland.* 

* See Note E.— Post 



REPRESEKTATION OF NEW NETHERLANU. G9 



IN WHAT MANNER NEW NETHERLAND SHOULD BE 
REDRESSED. 

ALTiioufiii we are well assured and know, in regard to 
the mode of redress of the country, we are only children, 
and Their High Mightinesses are entirely competent, we 
nevertheless pray that they overlook our presumption 
and pardon us it we make some suggestions according to 
our humble understanding thereol", in addition to what 
we have considered necessary in our petition to Their 
High Mightinesses. 

In our opinion this country will never flourish under 
the government of the Honorable Company, but will 
pass away and come to an end of itselt', unless the Hon- 
orable Comj)any be relormed ; and therefore it would 
be more profitable ibr them, and better for the country, 
that they should be lid thereof, and their efllects trans- 
ported hence. 

To speak specifically. Care ought to be taken of the 
public property, as well ecclesiastical as civil, which, in 
beginnings, can be illy dispensed with. It is doubtful 
wh(!ther Divine Worship will not have to cease altogeth- 
er in cons(;quence of the departure of the minister, and 
the inability of the Company. There should be a public 
school, provided with at least two good masters, so that 
first of all in so M^ild a country, where there are many 
loose people, the youth be well taught and brought up, 
not only in reading and writing, but also in the knowl- 
edge and fear of the Lord. As it is now, the school is 
kept very irregularly, one and another keeping it ac- 
cording to his pleasure and as long as he thinks proper. 
There ought also to be an alms house, and an orphan 
asylum, and other similar institutions. The minister 
who now goes home,* can give a much fuller explana- 
tion thereof. The country must also be provided with 
godly, honorable and intelligent rulers who are not very 
indigent, or, indeed, are not too covetous. A covetous 
Governor makes poor subjects. The manner the coun- 
try is nuw governed falls severely upon it, and is intol- 

• This wag tlie Rev. Johannes Backerus. who had previously been a min- 
ister .11 Curacoa. He succeeded the Rev. Everadus Bogardus as minister 
at New Amsterdam in 1647, and left for Holland in 1649, just before the de- 
parture of this deputation. 



70 REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

erable, for nobody is unmolested or secure in his property 
longer than the Director pleases, who is generally 
stroiiiily inclined to confiscating; and if every thing be 
well done, and the property given to the Heer, one must 
still study always to please him if he would have quiet. 
A good population \^'ould be the consequence of a good 
government, as we have shown according to our ability 
in our petition ; and although to give free passage and 
equip ships, if it be necessary, would be expensive at 
first, — yet if the result be considered, it would ultimate- 
ly be a wise measure, if by that means farmers and 
laborers together with other poor people were brought 
into the country, with the little [)roperty which they 
have ; of whom the Fatherland has enough to spare. 
We believe it would then prosper, especially as good 
privileges and exemptions, which we regard as the moth- 
er of population, would encourage the inhabitants to 
carry on commerce and lawful trade. Every one would 
be allui-ed hither by the pleasantness, situation, salubrity 
and fruitfulness ot the country, if protection were secured 
within the already established boundaries. It would all, 
with God's assistance, then, according to human Judg- 
ment, go well, and New Netherland would in a lew years 
be a brave place and be able to do service to the Neth- 
erland nation, to repay richly the cost, and to thank its 
benefactors. 

High Mighty Lords ! We have had the boldness to 
write this remonstrance, and to place matters before 
^ you as we have done from love of the truth, and because 

we felt ourselves obliged to do so by our oath and con- 
science. It is well that we have not seen, heard and 
considered them all at once, but separately, in their 
wdiole tenor and in every particular. Nevertheless there 
is nothing in it but what is well known by some of us to 
be true ; — the most is known by all of us to be true. 
We hope Their High Mightinesses will pardon our pre- 
sumption and our plainness of style, composition and 
method. In conclusion we commit Their High Mighti- 
nesses, their persons, deliberations and measures at heme 
and abroad, together with all the friends of New Neth- 
erland, to the merciful guidance and protection of the 
Highest, whom we supplicate for Their High Mighti- 
nesses' present and eternal weltare. Amen. 

Actum defen. — 28th of July in New Netherland. And 
was subscribed, ~"'^4f/r/aen vander Donck,Angustijn Her- 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLANU. 

viansz, Arnoldiis van Hardenhergli. Jacob van Couwen- 
hoven, Olojf' Stevensz" (by whose name was written, 
" under protest, — obliged to siirn about the iroveinmeMt 
of the Heer Kieft.") '' Mic/iielJansz, Thomas H U, Elhert 
Elbertsz, Govert Lokermans, Hendrick Hendricksz Kip, 
and Jan K verts-bout,'^ Below was written, " Accordiui^ 
to the collation of the original remonstrance, dated and 
subscribed as above, with ivhich these are found to corres- 
pond at the Hague, the I3th October, 1G19, bi/ me ;" — and 
was subscribed, 

"D. V. SCHELLUYiNEN, iVofary Publicr 



71 



K O T E S . 



A.— ragf 25. 

THE TITLE OF THE KAKL OF bTIRLIXG TO LOMi ISLAND AM> THE ADJACENT 1J.LANP3. 

Andkew Forester, the agent ot the dowager of Slirlintr, was a Scotchman (roin 
Dundee. He was arrested and e.xaniined before the Director and Council, on 
tlie 28lh iSeptember, 1G47, when the facts appeared as set forth in the te.\t. Tlie 
other Scotciniiaii arrested in 1(J40 by Kiefi, wns.faiiies l^'arrett, wlm heid a power 
of attorney from the Earl of Stirling in his life time, dated tlie 20iii of April, 
l(i37, authorising him to dispose of Long Island and the adjacent islands between 
the degrees of forty and forty-one north latitude, or any part of them. A cer- 
tified copy of this instrument is on file in the office of the town cleik of South- 
ampton on Long Island. Savage, in Winthrop, (Vol. ii. p. C), misled by Wood, 
("who however corrects the enor in the second edition of his " Sketch of Long 
Island,") confounds Forester with Farrett. 

The history of the grant of Long Island to the Earl of Siirling, has been nnicli 
obscured. It is not, as intimated by Hubbard, included in either of his patems for 
Nova Scotia, nor was it a grant direct from the crown, as stated by other writers. 
Those of Nova Scotia and the Canada grant, were issued by the crown, that of 
Long Island came from the Plymouth Company ; though in truth they may all be 
considered as emanating from that Company, through royal interference. 

The adventurers of the Northern Colony of Virginia obtained from James L a 
separate patent in 1G20, for all that portion of the country within their limits, 
that is, between the degrees of 40 and 4H, and formed a new company under the 
name of" The Council established at Plymouth in the county of Devon for the 
planting, ruling and governing of New England in America." The Earl of Stir- 
ling, ilien Sir William Alexander and IVlaster of Requtsts to the King, for Scot- 
land, becoming acquainted with Capt. .lohn Mason who had been in the country, 
was ill consequence induced to apply to the King for a patent for Nova Scotia, 
which was granted him in 1621 ; but as this territory was within the limits 
of the grant to the Council of New England, the prior assent of that cor- 
poration was necessary, and, upon the request of the King, was given, (Gorges' 
Brief Narration, ch p. 24.) Sir William Alexander was a favoiite of .tames I. 
probably on account of his being a fellow countryman of courtly manners and 
poetical talents. The interposition of the King in his behalf, and the extraordi- 
nary privileges included in the grant, of creating titles ol nobility for New Scot- 
land, which were in fact conferred, show the extent of his influence with that 
monarch, — an influence which on the death of .lames, he retained with his 
successor. 

The patentees of New England surrenrlered their charter in 16^5, first pass- 
ing grants to themselves in severalty, ot such parts of the country" along the sea 
coast," as they deemed proper. They hail, however, previously conveyed to pri- 
vate persons d fferent poitions of the country, and in April of that year made a 
deed to the Earl of Stirling of Long Island and the adjacent islands. This deed 
has never been prothiced in public, though it is said to be in the Stnle Paper 
OfFice in London. It is however desciibed both in the petition of lieiiry. the 
third Earl of Stirliii!!, made in 1061, to Ciiarles II., praying that in any treaty 
made with the Dutch, the subje Is of the latter government on Long Inland might 
be required to submit to the English, (London Documents at Albany, v ol. L) and 



REPRESENTATION Of NEW NETJIEKLAND. NuTES. 73 

in the power of attorney of the first Enrl of Stirline; to Farrett, before referre<l to. 
In the latter doctimenl it is recited that the Earl of Stirling had," by and with 
the coiisniit.dirertioii, appointment and command of his most sacred Maji'Sty,the 
King, obtained a patent or grant /rom thr corporation nf New England, under 
their common seal bearing date the two-andtwentieth day of April in the eleventh 
year of his said Majesiy Charles of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, 
or Anno Domini 1(J3(),* of a certain island called Long Island with all and eve.y 
the islands thereunto adjacent, lying, and being siiuate, or bounded between the 
degrees of forty and forty-one of the northerly latitude or thereabouts." It is added 
in the petition of Henry the grandson,—" with power of judicature, saving to that 
Councd the Oyer and Terminer of Appeals, to beheld of that Council /*cr^/arf/M/n 
comit'it as, find yielding the fifth part of all ore of gold and silver." The existence 
of this grant is established beyond all question by the fact that it was, with its 
relinquishment to the Duke of York, recognised in the iialent of Governor 
Nicholl to Constant and Nathaniel Sylvester for J^helier Island, May 31,lG(ifi. 
(Wood's Long Island^ p. fi, note.) The release to the Duke of York is also 
mentioned, though upon what authority it is not stated, in Mass. Hist. Coll. vol. 
in, 2d Series, p. 85. Major General William Ale.xanderof our revolution, gen- 
erally known as Lord Stirling, in a letter to one of his agents at the time of his 
claiming the Earldom and American estates of Stirling, says, that Henry the 
third Earl conveyed this title, about the year 1662 to the Duke of York, for an 
annuity of three hundred pounds, which was never paid. (See his life by Mr. 
Duer, p. .37.) As the Duke of York's patent included Long Island this release 
perfected the title of the crown of England to it in him, subject of course to the 
prior grants made by the Earl of Stirling, which are the foundation of many of the 
titles to real estate now field on the east er.d of Long Island, on Shelter Isfand 
and Nantucket. 

B.—Pagc 29. 

THE CLAIM OF EDMUND PLOWDEM TO LONG ISLAND AND NEW JERSEY. 

The claim of Edmund Plowden to Long Island and tlie country south of it, to 
Cape May, forms a curious chapter in our early history. Most writers have been 
disposed to treat it as a valid one ; while others have gone into the o|)posite ex- 
treme, and both ridiculed the claim and utterly denied its existence, giving it no 
other consideration than as an Eutopian fabrication. The truth appears to be that 
one Edmund Plowden did obtain a grant, through the Deputy General of Ireland, 
purporting to be from the King, which was enrolled in Ireland, and with which 
he visited this country. On his return to England he caused a jiamphlet to be 
published with the title of" A description of the Province of New Albion," &c.,t 
containing a letter alleged to have been written by one Robert Evelin who 
had lived there many years. Were there no other evidence to prove the actual 
assertion of Plowden's claim than this brochnrc, both might justly be denied, for 
it appears to have been written by some one who had little or no personal know- 
ledge of the country, with a free use of such materials as could be derived from 
Purchas. the semi-romantic histories of Captain John Smith, and the publica- 
tion of Lord Baltimore m relation to Maryland, whose grant most likely gave 
rise to the speculation on the pait of Plowden. The publication of this tract was 
first made in 1648. That the descriptiow which it contains of the country was 
not more correct, arose froin the fact that being in possession of the Dutch, it waa 
almost terra incognita to the Enslish, and Plowden's own knowledge of it was 
limited to New Amsterdam, the sea-coast, and perhaps the river Delaware. But 
there is abundant proof both of his title such as a he represented it to be, and ofhis 

* This is obviously a clerical error. The eleventh year of Charles I. was IC.'lj, and as tt 
was in June of that year thai the patent was surrcmlered l>y the Council of New Englaii , 
their deed to the Earl of Stirling must have lieen ln'fore tli.it event. 

t Reprinted in Force's Ccdiectiun of American Tracts. 

10 



74 RtJt'KESKN'JWI'ION OF NEW NK'I'UKRI.ANiy. — iVOTf.S, 

actual presetice in flijs country, asserting liis clrim, bufore the appenrnnce of the 
Description nf the Province of New Alliion* 

His two visits to New Netherland prosecutini; liis title are distinctly asserted 
in the text, one in the time ot' Kielt and the other in that of Siuyves;inJ. It is 
stated by Winthrop, suh anno 1648- that lie arrived in Boston in that year from 
Virginia where he had been almost seven years, which agrees with the jieriod 
stated in the Description of New Alhion for his residence in the country, it 
was durins this term that his visits were made to New Neiherland, the last of 
which was on his way to Boston from Virginia, on his retuMn to England. The 
work appears to hr/vc been published immeifiateSy on his reaching England. But 
ihe most interestini.' piece of contemporaneous evidence in legard to this claim is 
io he found in the Journiil of Augustine lleeremans, (one of Jhe Nine Men,) who 
^vith Resolve Walisron was sent as a Commissioner by Stuyvesant to the gover- 
noi- of Maryland in reference to the disputes about the bouiuhiries between their 
two colonies, in the year Hiol'. Heeremnns states that in their interview with 
Governor Kendall of Maryland, the latter cltiimed thaJ the patent of I^ord Balti- 
more extended norih to tl)e patent of New England, and then says : " Upon which 
we asked where then would New Netherland be, it'their limits were to join those 
of New England ? To Sliis he answered, he did not know. We then said we 
knew for both ; that it was a mistake and that New NeSherland was in posses- 
sion of these limits several years bribre n^y Lord Baltimore obtained his patent, 
and that we actually settled these parts. We broui,'bt forward also among other 
facts, how Edni. PU/trden in jonnrr daijf! laid claim to Delaware Bat/, and we 
ifeclared that t!ie one pretension had no better si\i)port than the other. To 
which he replied that Plowden had not obtained a conmiission, and was thrown 
in jad in England for his debts. He ncknowlcdged however that Plowden 
mlicited front the Knnt <t patent of Nottini Albion, which was refused, uihere- 
npon he addressed himself to the Viceroi/ of Ireland from whom he obtained a 
patent, but it was of no value at all." (Albany Records Vol. 18, p. 34S).) With 
this contemporaneous testimony we may appreciate the evidence, — the charter 
itself, which has been prothiced by Charles Varlo who visiJed shis country in 1784 
ior the purpose of es3ablishing the I'laim, of one third of which he had become 
?be owner. \'arlo having procured a copy of the charter from the Chancery 
rolls in Dublin caused it to be traslated from the Lutin, in which it was written, 
and to be publislied and distributed with copies of a lease and release and also 
an addipss, among the iidiabisants of this country. One of these publications 
we have now before us, with a proclamation in form of a handbill, addressed to> 
the people of New Albiffn.in the name of the Earl of Albion. The charter, 
Sease aud release were republished by Mr. Hazard in the tirst volume of his 
Col|eci;ions. The address to the public may be fouled in Mr. Pennington's Ex- 
aminntion of the iiamphlet before mentioned in the fourth volume of the 
Memoirs of the Historical Society of Pen!is>ivania. The i]roclamation has not 
Wen republished. The only copy which we know of, is the one for the use of 
which we are iindebted to ilie kindness of Hon. Petier Force of Washington. 

This charter IS from the Deputy General of Ireland, and is dated the 21st of 
.lune, in the tenth year of Charles I. (KiS^,) and grants to Edmund Plowden, 
Knight, and So John Lawrence, Knight and Baronet, Bovvyer Worsley, Knight, 
Charles Barrett nnd .lolm Trusler, Roger Pncke, Williiitn Inwooil, Thomas 
Ribread and George Noble, certain lantis and premises to be erected into a pro- 
vince and called New Albion, consisting of Long Island or Isle of Plowden and 
of a part of the main land forming a square of one hundred and twenty miles on 
each side, beginning at Cape May, thence along the river Delaware forty 
leagues, thence on a linp at rigliJ angles north forly leagues, thence in a line at 
right angles east forly leagues including Sandheey [Saiiidy Hook,] and fiom 

* This work puriinris to li:i vc tiecn written by Beanchamp riaiilasenet, wlio was (loul)tless 
a tictiliiiii-: pprs(iii;i'.;r. Il ini \\ riiirti by PJDuden, it w:is prepared under his direction. In 
ihi' M'l-oiiil ch i|>U-r tliiTP i- il ri'lt'r iii-:' lo the Indian war chu-inu' KietVs administration, to the 
ii\i-r-a^i' of till- lai<.'li-;li popiija'inn at .Manhattan, and the furnishing aiiuiiunitiun to the 
Siiili-m^ l^y i^usyvesiiiil, — facts witliiu l.'luvv(le!i''s l<,nou!edse or soiue mi* « ho had been here. 



REPRESBNTATION OF NEW NETIIEM.ANI). NOTES. 7 

thencp south on the line of the squnre to Cope Mays and also grants to Plowden 
the title of Karl Palatine thereof. By the release, also dated in IG.'M, the four 
patentees last aliove named convey iheir interests to the children ot Edmund 
Plowden, and declare that the intei^esi of Worsiey and Barrett, had, in con- 
sequence of their death, passed to the survivins; patentees. This charter was 
void, as made without authority, (or whatever patents of lands in this coun- 
try may have heen lawfully issued hy the royal colonial governors, no such 
grants were ever authorized to he made hy any delegiiied power at home, much 
(ess were political charters with provincial grants permitted to be given by 
subordinate authorities, either here or there. It was accordingly treated as a 
nullity by the Enjilish as well as by the Dutch. 

The occasion of the publication by Varlo wtvs the purcliase by him before the 
revolutionary war, Irom sturie person in England, of one third of tliis allej^ed 
proprietary riffht. He came to this country in 17H4 for the purpo.=e ()f piosecuiiiiiT 
the claim, aiul alter his return to Enijland published an acroimt of his travels in 
America, with some fiicts connected with this claim, in a book which he called 
" Floating Ideas of Nature." (2 vols. I'Jmo. Lond. 179()). 

Was there any settlement attempted by Plowden, and if so, where? In the 
work of Varlo just alluded to, he states that Edward, the second* son of Sir 
Edmund Plowden, came to the palatinate, with his lady and two sons, for the 
purpose of enjoyint; the property; but that they had not Ix-en long here, 
when they were attacked by the Indians, and Edward and his lady niurdeied, 
the two childivn escapins. Whence he obtained this information does not 
appear precisely, tlioui:i\ probably from Edmund Plowden, Esij, ot Maryland, 
whom he visited during his tour in this country, or from the Plowden family 
in Ireland. 

We have ascertained some facts, which may well be taken into view in con- 
nection with the point we are now considering. It appears from the records at 
Anna{K)lis, thatone Edmird Plowden took up a tract of land in St. Mary's county, 
Maryland, called " Plowden's discovery," on the 2!hh of March, 1742, and on 
the eighth of August, following, two other tracts, making in all 66tj acres, 
which have ever since remained in the possession of his descendants, and are 
now called Bushwood. Edmund Plowden, one of these descendants, was, in 
1777 appointed a captain of militia in the upper battalion of St. Mary's county, 
and in the years 1783 and 1784, represented that county in the Legislature of 
Maryland. He is the member of the family visited by Varlo, who erroneously 
gives his name Edtpard. The correct name, Edmund, which was the name of 
the patentee of New Albion, is a circumstance not to be disregarded in the 
present inquiry. Edmund J. Plowden, Esqr.,of Bu-:hwood, the grandson of this 
Edmund, informs us, (in 184'J.) that by tradition he is descended from one of 
the sons of the Edward, murdered by the Indians, whose names were Thomas 
and George, but at what time or at what particular place the murder happened is 
unknown. He states that Varlo called upon his grandfather with a view 
of obtaining his aid in prosecuting the claim, which his grandfather declnied, 
in consequence of his advanced age and the difficulties which obviously presented 
themselves ; and that there was a correspondence on the subject between his 
grandfather and Francis Plowden, the author of the well known history of Ire- 
land. He further says, " my father dying when I was but a boy, many papers 
were either mislaid or destroyed, among them this very grant to Sir Edvvard.t 
which when a boy I have otten seen, as also a book tracing the descent of our 
family at least from Sir Edward, down to my grandfather." The Sir Edward 
here referred to is the one called by Varlo the second son of Sir Ednuind Plowden 
the original claimant, and the title preti.ved to the natnes, which apjiears to have 
had no other foundation than the charter of New Albion, has been trans- 

* The names of Edmund Plowrien's children are given in the Description of .\Vjc Mbion 
as folhuvs : Francis, (the eldest,) Thomas, Wincfrid, Barbara and Katharine. The name ot 
Edward does not appear. 

t This may have been either a conveyance from the fnniily, of t'..^ release from the pa- 
tentees before mentioned. 



76 RErRESENTATlON OF NEW NETHERLAND. NOTES. 

mitted in the family to later members of it. He has also shown us a conveyance 
on parcliment, with internal evidence of its antiquity, of /iesi/;Tec//o/( Manor 
in Maryland, made by Richard Perry to Thomns and Geoiise FLowdrn, dated 
10th May, lt)84, which proves them to iiave been in this country at a time con- 
sistently with the tradition. 

If any settlement were attem|)ted it must liave been by one of the Plowdens, 
probably a grandson if tiot a son of the original claimant. There is no 
mention in the Dutch records of any such attempt during the time the country 
was under tlie control ot the West India Company. From the great minuteness 
with which every aggression of the English, and every other event connected 
with the possessions of the comjtany, are stated in those records it could not well 
have happened without some mention of it in ihein. There were three projects 
by the English to obtain a foothold on the Delaware, during the Dutch dynasty, 
which are stated ; — one by George Holmes in 1(335, with a party of a dozen men, 
and is referred to in the brief statement of Van Tieidu>ven, in connection with 
the name oi' Thomas Hall, who was one of the parly ; the second in 1641, 
by Mr. Lambertson of New Haven: and the third in 1G59. by Lord Balti- 
more, which was the occasion of the embassy ofHeermans and Waldion before 
referred to. 

It appears to admit of little doubt that one of the Plowdens came over here 
after the return of Edimuid, the original grantee, to enjoy the property, but for 
the reasons given in regard to any settlement by the latter it couid not have been 
before the year ]G()4, when the Dutch power ceased in New Netherland. It is 
(luite likely that the conquest by the English, revived the fallacious hopes of the 
Plowden family, and that they despatched one of their number, in after years, to 
this country. But where he attempted his settlement is unknown, as are also 
the circumstances of his tragic fate. If attempted any where within the limits 
of New Albion, it must have been in New Jersey. The annals of Long Island 
have been so fully preserved as to render the absence of all allusion in them to 
the matter conclusive against the su])position of its having been tried there. 

We cannot dismiss the subject of New Albion, without adverting to a state- 
ment contained in the work of Plantagenet, as the original source from which 
the historians of New York, with hardly an exception, have derived and trans- 
mitted an error connected with the conflicting claims of the Dutch and English 
to New Netherlarul. It is the alleged landing of Sir Samuel Argall on Manhat- 
tan island in Kil.'J, on his return voyage to Virginia from his expedition against 
the French at Acadia. This is a pure tiction.unsustained by any good authority, — 
ihougli some writers have heaped up citations on the subject, — and as fully sus- 
ceptible of disproof as any statement of that character at that early period can be. 

C.— rngr 32. 
The Swedes on the Delaware. 

The historians of New Sweden have been in doubt as to the precise time of the 
arrival of the Swedes. Mr. Clay says, that Minuit brought over the first colonies 
about the year 1636. Mr. hin is considers the time of his arrival uncertain, 
though he supposes from circumstances that it was early in the spring of 1638. 
Acrelius, who b.ad the information before him, is not explicit : and Thomas Cam- 
panius is both ambiguous and wrong, as are all those who have relied upon him. 

The year is distinctly given in the te.xt. It is said to be 1638, and " eleven 
years ago," that is, belore 1649. when the Vertoogh was written. But we have 
it in our power not oidy to corroborate this statement, but to fi.x the month, by 
evidence of a different character. Among ihe London Documents procured by 
the historical tigent of New York, is a letter from the Treasurer of Virginia, 
.[erome llawley, lo Mr. Secretary Windebanke, dated " Jamestown in Virginia, 
8ili May, 1638," in which the following passage occurs: " Since which tyme 
(20th March last,) heare arrived a Dutch shipp with commission from the yong 
Queene of Sweaden. aiui signed by eight of the cbieli? Lordes of Sweaden, the 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. NOTES. ''"^ 

coppe whereof I would have taken to send to yo'r Ilon'r, but the Cnptayne would 
not permit me to take any coppe thereof, except he might liave free trade for 
tobacco to carry to Sweden, which beins contrary to his Maj'is instructions the 
Govern'r excused himself thereof. The shipp remained heare about 10 days to 
refresh with wood and water, during which tyme, ihe M'r of said shipp made 
knowne that both himselfe and another shipp of liis compiny, were bound fdr 
Delaware Baye, which is the conlines of Virginia and New England, and 
they p'tend lo make a plantation and to plant tobacco, which the Dutch do aliso 
already in Hudson's river, which is the very next river Northard from Delaware 
Baye. All which being his Mat's terretorys, &.c." (London Doc. Vol. 1.) The 
two ships, which were the AV// of Calmar and the GrUJiii, must have been m 
Virginia at or afier the tirst of A|>ril,. -supposing them to have arrived the very day 
afte" the 20th of March, referred to in this letter, as they staid there ten days to 
wood and water, which would have consumed all the month of March at least. 
At all events it is certain they could not have arrived in the Delaware, to sail to 
which would have taken another day, before tiie lirst of April. Tiie probabilities 
are that they did not arrive in Virginia on the day after the 20th of March, be- 
cause if they had done so, it would probably have been so stated in the letter, and 
consequently they did not reach the Delaware until some days after the first of 
April. 

The point then remains, how late a day could this have been ? Hawley's letter 
was written on the tenth of May, before which time they had left Virginia, and 
allowing that they left on the previous day, which is the latest one consistently 
with his letter, and that ii took even two or three days to get to the Delaware, we 
have the latest period, the eleventh or twelfth of May as the time of their arrival. 
That it was not, however, so late as this, may be gathered from another record in 
connection with the text ; the protest of Director Kieft at New Amsterdam on 
the occasion, complaining of the Swedes for having begun " to build a fort 
between our forts" that is between the Iloerekil and fort Nassau. The date of 
the protest is variously given by different writers, Acrelius,and Smith, the historian 
of New York, stating it to be the 6th of May, and others the 17th of that month. 
The record at Albany, from whence it has been taken by all of them , lias no date ; 
but it occurs in a book in which the date of the record before it is the 6th, and of 
that which follows is the 17th of May. Hence the discrepancy. Supposing it 
however to have been issued on the 17tii, how much time had elapsed at that 
day after the Swedes reached the Delaware \ Now it is stated in the Vertoogh 
that the Swedes did not be^in their fort at their first arrival, and that it was not 
until the third visit of the Dutch to them that any attempt of that kind was dis- 
covered. They busied tiiemselves at first in obtaining wood and water for their 
ships, which returned home in June, leaving some colonists behind, and then in 
planting a kitchen garden. This must have taken some time ; and it was not 
until after this that the fort was commenced, and information of that fact sent to 
Kieft at New Amsterdam, a long, and at that time tedious journey from Fort 
Nassau, (Gloucester Point in New Jersey — some miles below Philadelphia;) for, 
as before observed, he distinctly protests against the building of the fort. Hence 
the conclusion is irresistible, that the first entry in the Delaware by the Key of 
Calmar and the Griffin, must have been before the first of May. We will not 
attempt to fix the precise day, for that is impossible ; but that the month was 
April, seems to admit of no question. 

The statement of Campanius which makes the first coming of the Swedes un- 
der different auspices and in an earlier year, 1631 in pursuance of an edict of 
Gustavus, confirmed by the Diet in 1627 upon the representation of Usseiinx, is 
not founded upon any evidence which has ever been produced in this country or 
in Sweden, nor is it corroborated by a single other writer. Mr. Arfwedson errs 
when he quotes Biorck, (in Dissert, de plant. Eccl. Sre. in America,) as an au- 
thority that the first emigration to the colony was made in 1627, and that the 
building of Fort Christina took place in 1631. {Arfwed. de cnlonia Nora 
Sveria dedncta historiola, p. JO.) The language of Biorck is this: " As to what 
roncema the first arrival of the Swedes in America we may observe, according to 



78 REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. NOTES. 

Til. Ciimranius Holm, p. 57, that the first expedition tliither was made in the 
year KiiJT, durinir the rei^n of Gustavus Adoipluis, which was followed by others 
in the time of Queen Christina. The originator of the first e.xpedition was Wil- 
liam Usselinx, a Batavian, &c." {Dissert, de plant, p. 5.) All this statement it 
will be seen is declared to be made on the authority of Campanius, and not on 
that of Biorck himself. We are therefore thrown back upon Cainimnius, who had 
never been in this country. His description of New Sweden was derived from 
the notes of his grandfather, the Rev. John Campanius, who came over with Gov- 
ernor Printz.and was in the country six years. So far as the grandson confines 
himself to the matters known by his ancestor, he may be depended upon ; but 
when he goes beyond them, he is constantly llounderiiig in error. Biorck quotes 
in the same paragraph in which the above passage occurs, from a much more re- 
liable source in relation to this very point, and in contradiction of Companius, 
from Rev. Andrew Sandel who was minister of the church at Wicaco, (now 
a part of Philadelphia,) from 1702 to 1719. Biorck speaking of the expedition 
of John Printz to the Delaware in 1642, says: " But as we learn from the obser- 
vations of Mr. Sandel, colonists probably not less numerous, were previously [that 
is, before Printz' arrival,] sent over to these parts of America, under a very pru- 
dent man, Meneve, [Minuit,] a Belgian. It is said that he was the first governor 
of the Hollanders who inhaliit the territory of New Jersey ; but as a quarrel took 
place between him and them, he was compelled to return home, w^iere he was 
arraigned and deprived of his office. For this reason he left his country and 
went to Sweden, where upon a representation to the chief men of the great fer- 
tility and excellence of the country, he at length obtained permission to conduct 
thither a new colony. Upon his death, Peter HoUender succeeded to his place, 
who is considered to have been the first governor there." No allusion is made by 
Sandel to the alleged colony during the reign of (iustavus, which he would cer- 
tainly have (lone if it had ever existed. He uses the term " new colony," evident- 
ly in contradistinction to the Dutch colony of which Minuit had been the gov- 
ernor, for he speaks of no other. 



'D.—Page 4.3. 

The iNscRirnoN on the First Dutch Church. 

The site of the first church built in New Netherland was in front of what is 
now called the Bowling Green, being the same spot on which Fort Amsterdam, 
which received successively the names of the reigning monarchs of Great Bri- 
tain alter its conquest from the Dutch, until the revolution, was erected as stated 
in this work. The fort called Fort George, was, by authority of law, razed to the 
ground in I7LMI, for the purpose of locating the Government House, which subse- 
quently stood there. On removing the rubbish of the fort the inscription on the 
old church was found. The following paragraph, recording the fact, may be 
found in the New York Magazine for 1790. 

"June 2.3. On Monday last, in digging away the foundation of the fort in 
this city, a square stone was found among the ruins of a chapel, (which formerly 
stood in the fort, with the following Dutch inscription on it : 

Ao. Do. MDCXLir. W. 

Kieft Dr. Gr. Heeft de 

Gemeenten Dese Tem 

pel doen Bouwen. 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETIIERLAND. NOTES. 79 

(Translation.) 

" In the year of our Lord, lfi42, Willium Kiefl, Director General, caused the 
CDiiKregation to build lliis church." 

The stone was removed to the helfry of the Garden Street Cliurch, whicli was 
destroyed hy the great Fire of IR.'Ji), and will) which was lost this interealing nie- 
inorial of the first cliurch in New Neiherland. 

E.—ragi> 68. 

Va.t TiENncvE.s's Answer to the VERTOoGn. 

Justice demands that we should give the answer of Stuyvesant, by his secre- 
tary, to the charges of the coMiplainants. Van Tienhoven, with all his faults, 
was a man of ability, and he pri-sented his points with force and succiTictnesa. 
He entered upon no defence of himself — whether from prudence, in order to 
avoid a personal issue in an affair of such great interest to his eiiii)loyers, or from 
a consciousness of their trnih, is uncertain. Probably both considerations ope- 
rated upon him. He was shrewd enough to display no feeling ; while it apjiears 
to be well established thai his habits were loose and profligate, though lie con- 
tinued, notwithstanding, to retain the confidence of Stuyvesant for a long time, 
and even after he had lost that of the company, as he was dismissed by him from 
the service of the company only upon its repeated peremptory order, (Alby. Re- 
cords, Vol. IV., 14, 2U7 and 217.) which took place in ICofJ. In his reply Van 
Tienhoven retaliati d upon the signers of the remonstrance by a description of 
them, individually, intended to be not very flattering to them, with which he 
closes his cort berirht. or brief statenieiit. This reply, with the remonstrance, 
aflbrd us a good insight into the earlier management of the West India Com- 
pany in New Netherland. The answer was never printed, and was found 
among the royal archives at the Hague, by Mr. Brodhead, whence it was lian- 
scriheci into the Holland documents of our State, and from them it is now trans- 
lated as follows: 

" A hrief stafrment or avsicer to amnr points embraced in the leritten deduction 
of Adrian Van der Donk anil liin associatex, prexcnted to the Hish and 
Mighty Lords States General. Prepared by Cornei-is Van TiENHOVEjf, 
Secretary of the Director and Council of New Netherland." 

" In order to present the aforesaid answer succinctly, he. Van Tienhoven, will 
allege not only that it illy becomes the aforesaid Van der Donk and other private 
l)ersons to assail and abuse the administration of the Managers in this country, 
and that of their Governors there,* in such harsh and general terms, but that they 
would much belter discharge their duty if they were first to bring to the notice of 
their lords and patrons what they had to complain of But passing by this point, 
and leaving the consideration thereof to the discretion of your High Mightinesses, 
he observes preliiiiinarily and generally, that the?e persons say much and \nvve 
little, so that it could as easily, and with more truth, be denied, than by them ii 
i3 affirmed. 

" Coming then to the matter, I will only touch upon those points as to whicli 
either the Bewinthebbers or the Directors are arraigned. In regard to point No. 
1,'it is denied, and it never will appear that the company have refused to permil 
people to make settlements in the country, and allowed foreigners to take up the 
land. 

" The policy of the company was to act on the defensive. As they had not 
the power to resist their pretended friends, and could only protect their rights by 
])rotest, this was better and more prudent than to come to hostilities. 

" Trade has long been free to every one, and as profitable as ever. Nobody's 
goods were confiscated, except those who had violated their contract, or the order 

* In New Netherland. Van Tienhoven prcpiircd lliis answer in Holland. 



80 



REPKKSENTATION OF NEW NETIJERLAN'l).- JJOTEH. 



Iiy which tliey were forbidden ; mid it' any body thinks that injustice has beefl 
done him by contiscation, he can speak for himself At all events it does not 
concern these people. 

" They complain that the Chrisrians: are treated like the Indians in the sale 
of goods, which is admitted ; bnt that lias not been by the company, nor by the 
directors, because, ((iod helij tiieni.) they have not had anything there to sell for 
manjr vears. Most of the remonstranis are merchants or factors, and are them- 
selves the persons wlio, for those articles wiiich cost here one hundred gnilder.si, 
charge there, over and above the first cost, including insurance, duties, laborer's 
wages, freight, ifcc.. one and two hundred per cent, or more profit. Here can be 
seen at once how these pi-o^le lay to the chariie of the ^Managers and their officers 
the very fault which tiiey themselves commit. They can never show, even at 
the time the conipany had their shop and niaijazines there, that the goods were 
sold at more than tjfty per cent, protii, in confoiniity with the exemptions. The 
forestalling of ilie trooilsby one and anoiher, and the demanding this i)rofit, was 
not prevented by the Director, as the trade was thrown o]ien to both those of 
small and those of large means. 

" It is a pure cahnnny, tliat the Conipany had ordered hall' a fault to be reck' 
oiied f(ir a whole one. 

" And, as it does not ciMicern the iidiabitants wh.at instructions or orders the 
panoons trive to the Du'ector. the charsje is made tor the purpose of bringing 
about, that these people may live without beins subject to the censure or disci- 
pline of any one, which, however, ihcy stand doubly in need of 

" Again it is said in general terms, but wherein, should be specified and proven, 
that the Director exercises, and has usurped, sovereign power. 

" That the inhabitants have had need of the Directors, appears by the books 
of accounts, in which it can he seen that the Company has assisted all the free- 
men, (some few excepted.) with clothing, provisions, and other things, and in the 
erection of houses, and at a rate from fifty to one hundred per cent, advance 
above the first cost in the P^atherland, and these amounts are not yet paid by the 
complainants. It would be very agreeable, no doubt, to deprive the Ci.impany of 
the country, and thus get rid of payint; tlieni. 

" It is ridiculous to supi)ose Director Kieft should have said that he was sove- 
reign, like the Prince in the Fatherland ; but as relates to the denial of appeal 
lo the Fatherland, it arose from this, that, in the exemptions, the Island of the 
Maidiatans was reserved as the capital of New Netherlands, and all the adja- 
cent colonies were to have their appeal to it as the Supreme Court of that region. 

" Besides, it is to be remarked, that the jiatroon of the colony of Renselaers- 
wyck notified all the inhabitants not to appeal to the Manhatans, which wa,s 
contrary to the exemptitms. by which the colonies are bound to make a yearly 
report of the state of the colony, and of the administration of justice, to the Direc- 
tor and Council on the Manlmtans. 

" The Directors have never had any management of, or meddled with, church 
property. And it is not known, nor can it be proven, that any one of the inhab- 
itants of New Netherlands has contributed or jiiven, either voluntarily or upon 
solicitation, any thing for the erection of an orphan asylum, or an alms house. 
It is true the church was built in the fori in the time ofWilliani Kieft, and 1,800 
iiuilders were subscribed for the pm-posc, for which most of the subscribers have 
been charged iii their accounts, which have not yet been jiaid. The Company^ 
in the iiieamime, has disbursed the money, so that the conmionalty has not, but 
the Company has, paid the workmen. If the commonalty desire the aforesaid 
works, they must contribute towards iliem as is done in this country, and, if there 
be an orphan asylum and alms house, the rents should l>e able not only to keep 
up the house, but also to maintain the orphans and old peo|jle. 

'• If any one could show that by will, or by donation of a living person, any 
money, or moveable or immoveable property, has been bestowed for such or any 
other public work, the remonstrants would have done it ; but there is in New 
Netherland no instance of the kind, rnid the charge is spoken or written in anger. 
"When the church, which is in the f Tt. \\as to b^ built, the church wardens were 



REPRESENTATION OF NCW NCTHEKhAND. NoTH.S. SI 

comeiii it slioiilil be put there. These persons complain because lliey considered 
the Company's fort not worthy of a church. When the church was built, could 
{he grisi mill not grind with a southeast wind if the (other) wind was shut off by 
the wails of the fort ? 

" Although the new school, towards which the cominonalty has contributed 
somethinji, is not yet built, and the Director has no managf-ment of the money, 
but the church wardens have, yet the Director is busy in i)ro%'iding materials. In 
the mean time a place has been selected for a school, where the school is kept 
by .Fan Cornelissen. The other schoolmasters keep school in hired houses, so 
that the youth, considerinff the circumstances of the country, are not in want ot 
schools. It is true there is no Latin school or academy, but if any of the com- 
monalty desire ii, they can furnish the means and attempt it. 

" As to what concerns the deacon's or poor fund, the deacons are accountable, 
and are the persons to be inquired of, as to where the money is invested, which 
they have from time to time put out at interest ; and as the Director has never 
had the management of it, (as against common usage,) the deacons are respon- 
sii)le for it, rmd not the director. It is true director Kieft being distressed for 
money, had a box hung in his house, of which the dencons had the key, and in 
which all the small fin-s and penalties which were incurred on court days were 
dropped. With the consent of the deacons he opened it, and took on interest 
the money, which amounted to a pretty sum. 

" It is admitted, that the beer e.Ncise of William Kieft, and the wine excise of 
Peier Stuyvesant, were imposed and continued to be collected up to the time of 
my leaving there ; but it is to be observed here, that the memorialists have no 
reason to complain about it, for the merchant, burgher, farmer, and all others, 
(tapsters only excepted,) can lay in as much beer and wine as they please, with- 
out paying any excise, being only bound to give an account of it in order that 
the quantity m ly be ascertained. The tapsters pay three guilders for each tun 
of beer, and one styver for each can of wine, which they get back again from 
their daily visitors, and the travellers from New England, Virginia, and else- 
where. 

" The commonalty up to that time, were burdened with no other internal taxes, 
than the before mentioned excise, unless the voluntary gifts which were two years 
since made for the erection of the church, be considered a tax, of which Jacob 
Couwenlioven,* who is one of the churchwardens, will be able to give an account. 

" In New England there are no taxes or duties imposed upon goods exported 
or imported ; but every person is there assessed by the government, according to 
his means, and so is compelled by the magistrates to pay for the building and re- 
pairing of churches, and the support of the ministers ; for the building of school- 
houses, and the support of schoolmasters ; for all city and village improvements, 
and the making and keeping in repair all public roads and paths, which are there 
made many miles into the country, so that they can be used by horses and car- 
riages, and journeys made from one place to another ; for constructing and keep- 
ing up all bridges over rivers for the accommodation of pa.esengers ; for the 
building of hotels for travellers, and for the maintenance of governors, magis- 
trates, marshals, and officers of justice, and of majors, captains, and other oflicers 
of the militia. 

" In every province of New F-'ngland there is quarterly a general assembly of 
all the magistrates of such province ; and there is yearly a general convention of 
all the provinces, each of which sends one deputy with his suite, which convention 
lasts a long time. All their travelling expenses, board, and compensation, are 
there raised from the people. 

" The accounts will show what was the amount of recognitions collected 
annually in Kieft's time ; but it will not appear that it was as large by far as they 
say the people were compelled to pay. This is not the Company's fault, nor the 
Directors", but of those who charge one, two and three hundred per cent, profit, 
which the people are compelled to pay because there are few tradesmen. 

* One of the throe delegates from the coiiinitmalty. then in Uolliuid. 

11 



82 REl'RESRNTATIOiV OF NEW NETilERLAND, ^VVKSy 

'• It \\ill iifve-r fippeiir t'lKit 3I),000 guiltlers are collected lioin the comtuau-alty 
ill l-!tuyvcs;iiit's lime ; fur nolhiii!:; is received besides the beer nnd wine excise, 
which aniouiics to about 4.0(JU guilders ort the Alanhatans. From the other vil- 
lages hituatetl around it there is liitle or nothing collected, because there- are no 
tapsters, except one at the Ferry,* and one at l^'Uishing. 

'' There is nothing conrtscaied belonging to the commonalty, and oniV contra- 
band goods of ioieigners ; and of these nobody's goods are confiscated with- 
out good cause. 

" The question is whether the Honorable Company or tlie Directors are bound 
io construct any works for the commonalty ou£ of the recognitions which the 
trader pays in New Netherland for goods exported, especially as those duties 
were allowed to the Company by their High Mitrhtinesses for the establishmenS 
of garrisons, and the ex]jenses which they would thereby incur, and not far the 
construction of hospitals, orphan asylums, or churches and school-houses. 

'• I'he iharge tliat the proijcriy of the C'omi)any is neglected in order So B^ake 
friends, cannot be sustained by proof. 

"Till- provisions in e.vc iianue for the negroes who came from Tamarjdare 
v^'ere sent to Curayoa, cxccp: a portion consumed on the Manhatans, as the ac- 
counts will show ; bu! ail these ari- matters which do not concern these persons, 
especially as they are not accountable lijr them. 

" As to what relates to the coiitr;ic! of the free persons, the Director has gra- 
ciously grained the neiiroes who were the Company's slaves, to give them their 
freedom in (•iins,"queiict' of llieir long service, on condition that their children 
slioidd remain slaves, who are not treated otherwise than as Christians. At pre- 
.vent ihere arc onl^' three ofthe.se children who do any service, one of them is as 
the House of llope,t one at the Conipany's bouwery, and one with Martin Cri- 
gier, who litis brougiit the girl up well, as eveiyiiody knows. 

" That the Heer Stuyvesant shonki biyild uji, tdter and repair the Company's 
property was his ditty. l''or tlie conse(iuent loss or profit he will answer to the 
Company. 

" Tlif li^irLdiers upon the island of [Vlanhatana, and thereabouts, must know 
ihat nobody comes or is admitted to New Netherland, (being a conquest,) except 
upon ibis condition, that he shall iiave nothin<f to say, and shall acknowledge 
hiniselt under i!ie sovereignty of their High Mightinesses, the .States General, 
and the Lords Bewinihebbers, as tlieir Lords and patrons, and should be oi.edieiu 
to ihe Director and Council for the time being, as good subjects are bound to be. 

'• Those whe^ have complained about the haughtiness of Stuyvesant, 1 think, are 
such as seek to live without law or rule. 

'■ Their complaint that no regulation was made in relation tos-ewar 's untrue. 
During the time of Director Kiefl.good sewan passed at four for a stiver, and the 
loose bits were tixetl at six pieces for a stiver. The reason why the loose sewan 
was not prohibited, was because there was no coin in circulation, and the laborers, 
boors, and other common people having no other money, would be great losers; 
and had it been done, the r'.'inonstrants would, without doubt, have included it 
among their grievances.! 

" Nobody can prove that Director Stuyvesant had used foul language to, or 
railed at as clowns, any persons of respectability who had treated him decently. It 
may be that some profligate lias given the Director, if he has Hsed any bad words 
to liim, cause to do so. 

* This wii.s in Brimklvii. The vill,-ii'e of Breukelen w.is a mile liist.int ("roin the river; 
and the hamlet at the ri'vrr was callni Thr Vrrnj. 

* Ldi tlie t'onnecticul Uivcr. 

I Sewan loni: (.'oiuiniieil \u I>p a |iai-t of the currency ainonsr the whites as well as the In- 
dians, and was evt-ii p:ii(l in I he Sunday Cdlleclions in the ehiu'ches It was made for the 
n.ii^i jiii.'-i ol Ihe slit-n iili/ie hai.l clam ; tlial madeoiU of the hlne part (ir heart of the shell 
ii.a W12 llii' liiL'lifsl vabir. Ii was ill sha|)p and size like cinniniin heads, and was perfs)rate(l 
ionsilinliiially so as to !.»• sirniii;. Kieft's reirtilalion, relVrred to by Van Tienhoven, which 
was adopicd on jtitli April, lli-ll, ilt^clared that the roiiL'h or loose sewan, worth six for a stiver, 
c.iin^' from oiln-r |ilarc-, .-.r.d il \v,ls ilic iMaiihatan sewan whi'ih lie li.ved at four for :'j stiver, 
■,oul wliii li is.L- ronscnurii'.ly liit' he>t. 



m:PRESENTAT10N OF NEW NF.TIIERI.AND. NOTES. 83 

" Thnt the fort is not properly repaired does not concern the inhaliitnnis. It 
is not their domain, but the Company's. They tire willing lo be prutccted 
by good fo'ts and garrisons belonging to the Company without lurnishing any 
aid or at--si<tance by labor or money tor the purpose ; but it appears they are not 
willing to see a fort well (ortified and properly garrisoned, from the apprehen«ion 
that malevolent and seditious persuns will be better punislied, which they call 
orrieliy. 

" Had the Director not been compelled to pix)vide the garrisons of New Neth- 
erland and Curacoa with provisions, clothing and pny, the fort would, doubtless, 
have been completed. 

" Against whom has Director Stuyvesant i»ersonally nrade a question without 
reason or cause ? 

" A present of ninize or Indian Corn they call a contribution; but a present 
is never received from txie Indians wiihotit its being doubly paid for, as these 
people, being very covetous, throw out a herring for a codfi.sli, as every body who 
knows the Indians can bear witness. 

" Francis Doushiy, father-in-law of Adrian van der Uonk, and an En<ilish 
minister, was allowed a colony at Mestpaclit, not lor himself alone ns pairoon, 
bu'. for him and his associates, dwelling in Rhode Island, at Cohanock nn<l other 
places, fwxn whom he had a power of allorney, and of whom a .Mr. Smith was 
one of the principal ; for ihe snid minister had scarcely any means of himself to 
build even a hovel, let alone to people a colony at his own expense; but was to 
be employed as minister by his associates, who were to establish him on a farm 
in the said colony, for which he would discliarge ministerial duties among them, 
cind live upon the profits of the farm. 

" Coming to the Manhatans to live during the war he was permitted by the 
English dwelling about there looflieiate for ihem as minister; and they were bound 
to maintain him without either the Director or the Company being liable to any 
charge therefor. The English rvot giving him wherewith to live on, two collec- 
tions were made among the Dutch and English by means of which he lived at the 
Manhatans. 

" The said colony of Mespacht was never confiscated, as is shown by the 
owners, still living there, who were interested in the colony with Doughty ; but as 
Doughty wished to hinder population, and to permit no one to build in the colony 
unless he were willing to pay a certain amount of money down for every morgen 
of land, and a certain yearly sum in adiliiion in the nature of around-rent, and 
also sought to have a property therein disiinrt from the others interested in tiie 
colony, the Director and Council, (Mr. Smith especially having complained,) 
determined that the associates might enter upon their property, — -the farm and 
lands which Doughty possessed being reserved to him ; so that he has suffered 
no loss or damage thereby. This 1 could prove, were it not that the documents 
are in New Netherland and not here. 

"There are no clauses inserted in the ground -briefs, contrary to the exemp- 
tions, but the words tins te hrrnmen (hereafter to be imposed) can be left out of 
the ground-briefs, if they be deemed offensive. 

" Stuyvesant has never disputed in court, but as president put proper inlerrotra- 
tories to the parties and delivered the judgment of the court about which the 
malevolent complain ; but it must be proven that any one has been wronged by 
Stuyvesant in court. 

" As to what relates to the second, (Vice Director) Dinclagen,let him settle his 
own matters. 

" It can be shown that Brian Newton not only understands the Dutch tongue, 
but also speaks it, so that their charge, that Newton does not understand the Di- 
rector's language, is untrue. All the otherslanders and calumnies uttered against 
the remaining officers should be required to be proven. 

" It is true that in New Netherland, a certain discourse was had to the effect that 
there was no appeal from a judgment in New Netherland pronounced on the island 
of Manhatans, founded on the e.\em|rtionsby which, the island of .Manhatans was 
e-siablished as the rapjJal of all the surrounding colouies, and also that there had 



84 PEI'RESENTA'l'ION OF NEW NETHERLAND. NOTES. 

never been a cnse in which an appeal from New Netherland had been entertained 
by Their High MiKbiinesses. It had been petitioned tor when Hendrick Jan- 
sen Snytier, Ijamriis Corneli;;sen, and otheis, many years ago, were banished 
irom New Netherland. It would be a very strange thing if the olHcers of the 
company could banii^h nobody from the country, while the officers of the colony 
of Renselaerswyek, who are subordinate to the company, can bamsh absolutely 
from the colony whomever they may deem advisable for the good of the colony, 
ami permit no one to dwell there niiless wiih ih«'ir approbation and upon certain 
conditions, some of which are as follows: ixibody in the first place can possess a 
f >oi of land of ins own, but is obliged lo take upon rent ail the land which he 
• ■idtivalcs. When a house is erected he is obliuvd to pay an annual ground- 
rent in beavers, and so also must the boor^, tor vvliirh they allow tliein free trade, 
astiiey call it. Where is there an inhabiiant under the jurisdiction of tlie Com- 
pany who expends or lays out any thing for irade or land I AH the farms are con- 
veyed in fee, subject to l\w chiufe be racint oj I e mig tc licratnrti, (taxes imposed 
or to be imposed.) 

" The English minister Francis Doughty lias never been in the service of the 
com|iany. wherefore it was not indebted to him ; but his English congregation are 
Ijomid to pay him, as may be proven in New INetherlaiul. 

'■ The Company has advanced the said minister, trom time to tinn'. uoods and 
necessaries of life amounting to about 1100 guilders, as the booiss ot the colony 
e:i;i sliow, which he has not yet paid, and vvliich he claims be should not jiay. 
NVheilicr or not the Director has desired a coniproniise wiih Doughty, I do 
iiiit know. 

'■ Dirreior Smyve^ant, when he came to New Netherland, endeavored accord- 
iiiLT !o ins orders lo slop in a proper manner the contraband trade in guns, powder 
and lend. The people of ihe colony of Renselaerwyck understanding this, sent 
a letier to the Direcior, reiiuesting inoderaiion, es[)ecially, as they said, it that 
tiadr were entirely abolished all the christians in the colony would run great 
danaer of being murdered, as may more at large be seen by the contents of their 
petition. 

" The Director and Council taking the request into consideration, and looking 
further into the consequences, resolved that guns and powder, to a limited e.xtent, 
be sparingly furnished by the Commissary ai Fort Orange, on account of the 
Comi)any, taking good care that no supply should be carried by the boats navigating 
the river, unless in pursuance of a further order. Ii is here to be observed that the 
Direcior, in order lo keep the colony out of danger, has permitted some arms to 
be furnished at the tort. Nobody can prove that the Director has sold or per- 
mitted to be sold, any thing contraband, for his own private benefit. That the 
Direcior has permitted some guns to be seized, has happened because they 
brought with them no license pursuant to the order of the company, and they 
would under such pretences have been able to bring many guns. The Director 
has paid for every one that was seized, si.xteen guilders, although it did not cost in 
this country more than eight or nine guilders. 

'■ It is true that a case of guns was brought over by Vastrick, by order of Direc- 
tor Stuyvesant, in which there were thirty guns, which the Director, with the 
knowledge of the Second (Vice Director, Dincklagen,) and Fiscal, permitted lo 
be landed in the full light of day, which guns were delivered to Commissary 
Keyser with orders to "sell thetn'io the Neiherlanders who had no arms, in order 
liiat in time of need thry might defend themselves, which Keyser has done; 
and it will appear by his accounts where these guns are. If there were any more 
guns in the ship it was unknown to the Director. The Fiscal, whose bu.siness it 
was, should have seen to it and inspected the ship ; and these accusers should 
have shown that the Fiscal fiad neglected to make the search as it ought to have 
been done. 

■•.Jacob Reinsen and Jacob Schermerhorn were a fum of merchants from 
Walerland, one of whom, Jacoi) Schennerhorn, was at Fort Orange, the other, 
.lacob Reiiit.jes. was at F(Mt Am.sterdam. wdio there bouiiht powder, lead and 
guns, nml s^ni ibein up to Sclii-rni''rlioru. who suppli'^d tlie rndiaiis. If so hnp- 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND. NOTES. 85 

pened that the Company's corporal, Govert Barent, having in charge such of the 
nrms of the Company as required to be repaired or cleaned, sold to the before 
named Jacob Reintjes, guns, locks, gtm barrels, &,c., as by Jacob Reinijes' own 
ncknosvlcdi;ed letters, written to his pariner long before iliis came to light, and 
by the inlorination oi the corporal, can be proven. The corporal, seduced by the 
solicitation of Jacob Reinijes, sold him the amis as often as desired, though the 
latter knew that the guns and gun barrels belonged to the Company, and not to 
the corporal. Therefore a parcel of peltries, (as may be seen in the accounts,) 
bought, as appeared from the letters, with contraband goods, was confiscated. As 
the said Jacob Reintjes has been in this country since the conliscation, he would 
have made complaint if he had not been guilty, especially as he was sufficiently 
urged to do so by the enemies of the Company and of tiie Director, but his own 
letters were witnesses against him. 

" Joost (le Backer being accused by the above named corporal of having 
bought gun locks and gun barrels from him, and the first informaiioi having proved 
correct, he was therefore taken into custody, and his house searched according to 
law, in wliich was found a gun of the Company ; wherefore he gave security (to 
answer,) for the claim of the Fiscal. 

" As the English of New England protected among them all fugitives who 
came to them from the .Manhatans without the pa.ssport required by the usa^e of 
the country, whether persons in the service of the Company or freemen, and took 
them into their service, it was therefore sought by commissioners to induce the 
English to restore the fugitives according to an agreement previously made with 
Governors Eaton and Hopkins, but as Governor Eaton persisted in refusing lo 
send back the runaways, although earnestly solicited to do so, the Director and 
Council, according to a jjrevious resolution, issued a proclamation that all per- 
sons who should come from the province of New Haven (all the others excepted) 
to New Netherlanil shonitl be protected ; which was a retaliatory measure. As 
the Governor permitted some of the fugitives to come back to us, the Director 
and Council annulled the order, and since then matters have gone on peaceably 
the same as before the dispute about the boundaries. 

" Nobody's goods are confiscated in New Netherland without great reason ; 
and if any one feels aggrieved about it, the Director will be prepared to furnish 
an answer. That ships or shipmasters are afraid of confiscation and therefore do 
not come to New Netherland is probable, for nobodv can come to New Nether- 
land without a license or permit. Whoever has this, and does not violate his 
agreement, and has properly entered his goods, need not be afraid of confisca- 
tion ; but all smugglers and persons who sail with two commissions may well be. 

" All those who were indebted to the Company were warned by the Director 
and Council to pay the debts left uncollected by the late William Kieft, and as 
some could, and others couid not -well pay, no one was compelled to pay ; but 
these debts, amounting to .30,000 guilders, made many who did not wish to pay, 
angry and insolent, (especially as the Company now had nothing in that coun- 
try to sell them on credit,) and it seemed that some sought to pay after the Bra- 
zil fashion.* 

" The memorialists have requested that the people should not be oppressed, 
which, however, has never been the case, but they would be right glad to see that 
the Company dunned nobody, nor demanded their own, yet paid their creditors. 
It will appear by ths account books of the Company that the debts were not con- 
tracted during the war, but before it. The Company has assisted the inhabi- 
tants, who were poor and burdened with wives and children, with clothing, houses 
cattle, land, »fcc., and from time to time charged them in account, in hopes of 
their being able at some time to pay for them. 

" If the taxes of New England, before spoken of, be compared with those of 
New Netherland, it will be found that those of New England are a greater bur- 
den upon that country than the taxes of New Netherland are upon our people. 

* This is an allusion to the recent lost by the Company nf Rr.Tzil, which had been tHlcnj 
from them by the Portuguese, whereby their ilebiors tlierc gut rid oC ilieir ifebts. 



bU EEPRERENTATION OF NEW NKTFIERLAND. NOTES. 

•• The wine exfisc of one stiver per can, was first laid in the year 1647. 

'• The beer excise ofthree guilders per tun, was imposed hy Keift in 1644, and 
is paid iiy tlie lapsier, and nor, by the luugliei-. 

'■ 'i'lie recognition of eight in a hundred upon iniiiorted beaver skins, dot s 
not come out ol tiie irdiabitants, but out of the trader, vvlio is bound to jjay it ae- 
(;ording to coirtract. 

" Tire Diieclor has always shown that he was desiroirs and pleased to see a 
deputation from the commonalty, who should seek, in the Fatherland, froiir tire 
Compairy as jjatrons, and the Lor-ds Slates as sovereigns, the following: popula- 
tion, settlement of boundaries, reduction ol' charges uporr New Nelherland tobacco 
and other productions, ineairs of transporting people, permanent and solid pri- 
vileges, &c. 

" For whicli purpose he has always lent a helping baud ; but the remonstrants 
have seci-etly goire rourrd exciling some of the conimoirally, and liy ihat means 
oiitained a clandestine ami secret subscriplion, as is to be seen by iheir remon- 
sti-ance, designed for no other object tharr to render the Company — their pa- 
trons — aird the oflrcers in New Netherlarrd odious before Their High Mighti- 
nesses, so that the Company might be deprived of the jus patronatus and be still 
further injured. 

" The i-enroirslrants say tlrat we had relied upon the Knglish, and by meairs of 
them sought to divert the college, (as rlrey call it,) which is untrue, as ap|)ears hy 
the propositions made to them. But rt is here to be observed that the English, 
living under the protection of the Netherlairders, having taken the oallr of alle- 
giance ami benig domiciliated and settled in New Nelherland, are to be cuiisi- 
(iered citizens of t he country. These persons have always l)een opposed to them, 
since (he Englrsh as well as they had a r-iglit to say someihing in relation to the 
deputation, and would not consent to all their calumnies and slanders, but looked 
to the good of till' conrmonalry and of the irrhabiiants. 

" It was never written in a letter upon their solicitation that tliey might secret- 
ly go ami s]ieak to the commonalty. 'I'he intention ol the Director was localise 
thenr to be called together at Iris own time, as opportunity should offer, at which 
time they might speak to the commonalty publicly about the deputation. The 
Director was not obliged, as they say, to call tire cummonalty inrmediately to- 
gether. It was to be considered by hiirr at N\hat time each one could convenient- 
ly conre from hoirre wrthoiit loss, especially as soirre lived nl a distance in the 
couirtry, vtc. 

" That they have m>t been willing to coinmnnicate, was because all whom they 
had slandei-ed would have been able to have jirovided themselves with the means 
of defence, and made the contrary appear, and in that case could have produced 
sonrelhing from some of them. And since the l)ii-ector and those corrnected with 
the administration in New Netherland are very rrriich wrongeil attd defamed, I 
desire time in oi'der to wait for ojiposing docuineiiis from New Netherland. it it 
be nece.'isary. 

" Vander ]")onk and his as.socintes say that the Director instituted suits agairrst 
some per-sons. 'I'he Director going to the house of IVIichael .lansen, (one of the 
signers of the r-emonsti-ance,) was warned by the said Michael and Thomas Hall, 
saying, there was within it a scandalous journal of Adrian vair der Donck ; which 
journal the Director took with hinr. ami on account of the slandei'S which were 
contained in it against 'I'heir High Mightinesses and private individuals, Van der 
Donck was arrested at his lodgiirgs and proof of what he had written demanded, 
but it was dispensed with on the apphcarion aird solicitation of others. 

" During the administration both of Kieft and of Stuyvesairt, it was by a placard 
published and posted, that no attestation or other public writing should be valid 
before a court in Netherland, unless it were written by the secretary. This was 
not done in order that there should be no testinrony, (against the Director,) but 
upon thisconsideratiorr, that nrost of the people living in Netherland are country 
or seafaring men, and sumnron each other fVerjuently for small matters before the 
court, while many of them can neither read nor v.nite, and neither testily intel- 
li'dbly nor produce written evidence, and if sotrre do produce it, sometimes it is 



REPRESENTATION OF N F,\V NRTIl CRLAND. NOTES. b7 

written by a sailor or a boor, and is often wholly indisiinct and repugnaiu to ilie 
meaning of those who had it written or who made the statement ; consequently 
the Director and Council coukl not know the truth of matters aa was proper 
and as justice demanded, &c. No body has been arrested except Van der Donk 
for writing the journal, and Augustus Heeimans, the asenl of Gabri, because he 
refused lo exhibit the writinL's drawn up by the Nine Men, which were reported 
to the Director, who had been for them many times like a boy. 

" Upon the lirst point of redress, as they call it, the remonstrants advise, that 
the Company should abandon the country. What frivolous advice this is! The 
Company have at their own expense conveyed cattle and many persons thither, 
built forts, protected many peojile who were poor and needy emigrating from 
Holland, and provided them with provisions and clothing; and now when some 
of them have a little more than they can eat up in a day, they svish to be released 
from the authority of their benefactors, and without pa\ing if they could ; a sign 
of gross ingiatitude. 

" Hitherto the eouniry has be< n nothing but expense to the Company, and now 
when it can provide tor itself and yield for the future some prolit lo the Company, 
these jieople are not willing to pay the tenth which they are bound honestly to 
pay when called upon after the expiration of the ten years, pursuant to the ex- 
emptions. 

" Upon the second point they say that provision should be made for ecclesiasti- 
cal and municipal property, church services, an orphan asylum and an almshouse. 
]f they are such philanthropists as they ajtpear, let them lead the way in generous 
contributions lor such laudable objects, and not complain when the Directors have 
endeavored to make collections for the church and school. What complaints 
would have been made if the Director had undertaken lo make collections for an 
almshouse and an orphan asylum. 1 he service of the church will not be suspended, 
although Dominie Johannes Backerus has returned, who has been there more 
than twenty-seven months. His place is supplied by a learned and g^dly miinsier 
who has no interpreter when he defends the Reformed Keligion against any 
minister of our neighbors, the English Brownists.* 

" The foregoing are the points which reijuire any answer. We will only add 
some description of the persons who have signed the lemonstrance and who are 
the following ; 

" Adrian van der Donk has been about eight years in New Netherland. He 
went there in the service of the proprietors of the colony of Renselaerswyck as an 
officer, but did not lone continue siu-h, though be lived in that colony till 1646. 

" Arrioldii-t Van Niirdrriliiiii;/i accompanied Hay .lansen to New Netherland, 
in the year 1644, with a cargo for his brother. He has never to our knowledge 
suffered any loss or ilnmage in New Netherland, but has known how to charge 
the commonalty well for his goods. 

" Aiigiistyn Heermans went by the authority of Enkhuizen,t being then as he 
still is, the agent of Gabrie, in trading business. 

" Jacob ran Conwenhoven went to the country with his father in boyhood, was 
taken by Wonter Van Twiller into the service of the Company as an assistant, 
and afterwards became a tobacco planter. The Company has aided him with 
necessaries, as it is to be seen by the books, but they have been paid for. 

" OInf Strrenxrn, brother-in-law of Govert Loockmans, went out in the year 
1637 in the ship Herring as a soldier, in the service of the Company. He was 
promoted by Director Kieft and finally made Commissary of the shop. He ha» 
profited in the service of the Company, and has endeavored to give his benefactor 
the world's pay, that is, to recompense good with evil. He signed under protest, 
saying that he was compelled to sign, which can be understood two ways, one 
that he had been compelled lo subscribe to the truth, the other that he had been 
constrained by force to do it. It he means the latter, it must be proven. 

* Tlif Rev. .lohannes Meg^polensis is lirro rrforred to. 

t A city in the North Quarter, which was one iil" the Chambers or ileimriinents ..f ihe Wesl 
India Cuinp:iny. 



S8 



REPRESENTATION OF NEW iNETHERLAND. NOTEf5. 



" JSIichiipl Jiinsrn went to New Nellierlund as a tanner's man in the emiiloy of 
the pioprietors of Rens(>laerp\vyck. He made liis fortune in the colony in a few 
years, but not being able to ac:ree wiili the officers, iinally came to live upon the 
island Manhatans. He would liave come here himself, but the accounts between 
him and the colony not being settled, in which the proprietors did not consider 
themselves indebted as he claimed, .Ian Evertsen came over in his stead. 

"• Thamax Hull went to the South River in Ki.SG, in the employ of Air. ?Iolme.«, 
an Englishman, who intended to take Fort Nas.sau and rob us of the South River. 
This Thomas Hall ran away from his master, came to the Manhatans and hired 
himself as a farmer's man to Jacob Van Curlur. Benig n freeman he has made 
a tobacco planintion upon the lami of that not.'d individual, Wouter Van Twy- 
ler. Tliomas Hall dwells at i)reseni uijon a .-^inall bowery belonging to the Hon- 
orable Company. 

" Elbert Elbertsen went to the coimtrv as a f n'lner's boy at about ten or eleven 
years of age, in the service of ^V'ouler Yi\n Twyler, and has never hat! any land 
of his own. About three years ago he married the widmv of Gerret Wolphertsen, 
(brother of the before mentioned Jacoi) Van Couwenhoven,) and from that time 
to this has been indebted to the Company, and would be very glad to get rid 
of paying. 

" GorrrI Luorktiirnis, brother in law ot Jacob Van Couwenhoven, went to New 
Netherland in the yacht St. Martin, in the year 1G33, as a. cook's mate, and was 
taken by Wouter Van Twyler into the service of the Company, in which service 
he profited somewhat. He became a freeman, ami finally took charge of the 
trading business for Gilles Verbruggen and his Com|)any. This Loockmans 
owes gratitu'ie to the Company, next to God, for his elevation, and ought not 
advise its removal from the couiury. 

" Heiu'rirk Kip is a tailor, and has never suffered any loss in New Nether- 
land to our knowledge. 

"/«» Erfr/.svM-io;//, formerly an oflicer of the Company, came the lasi time 
in the year 1634, with the ship Eendracht, (Union,) in the service of the Honor- 
able Micliicl Paauw, and lived in Pavonia until the year 1643, and prospered 
moderately. As the Honorable Coinjjany purchased the property of the Heer 
Paauw, the said Jan Evertsen having the property, succeeded well in the service 
of the Company, but as his house and barn at Pavonia were burnt down in the 
war, he appeared to take tliat as a cause for complaint. It i,s here to be remarked, 
that the Honorable Company paid 26,000 guilders for the colony of the Heer 
Paauw. The said Jan Evertsen built his house ujion the land and had given 
nothing for his farm, which yielded good wheat. Long afterwards his house was 
burnt. The land and a poor unfinished liouse, with a tew cattle, he has sold to 
Micliiel Jansen for eight thousand guilders. 

■' In tine, these people, to give their doings a gloss, say that they are bound by 
conscience and compelled by reason ; but if that were the case they would not 
assail their benefactors, the Company and others, and endeavor to deprive them 
of this noble country, by advising their removal, now that it begins to be like 
something, and may hereafter be of some advatitage to the Company, and now 
that many of the inhabitants are themselves in a better condition than ever, 
endeavors caused apparently by the ambition of many, &c. 

" At the Hague, 2dtk November, 1650." 



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